LANCASTER, PA — In a case that demonstrates the efforts of the Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF), Brette Giles, a 35-year-old resident of Harrisburg, has been sentenced to a prison term of 1½ to 10 years. The sentencing came on Monday after he was caught in a sting operation attempting to have sex with a minor.
Giles, who resides on the 5200 block of Wynnewood Road, was sentenced by Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth. He admitted to agreeing to pay an undercover agent $100 for sex, believing the agent to be a 14-year-old girl.
The charges against Giles included attempting to patronize a victim of human trafficking, attempted statutory sexual assault (the defendant being 11 years older than the victim), criminal use of a communication facility, attempted corruption of minors, and attempted indecent assault of a person under 16. Giles pleaded guilty to all charges.
The HTTF conducted an undercover operation in January 2023 specifically targeting individuals soliciting sex from minors. Giles responded to an online advertisement and initiated communication with an undercover HTTF detective, who was posing as a relative of a 14-year-old girl.
Believing he was about to engage in sexual activity with a minor, Giles agreed to pay $100 and traveled to a pre-arranged location. Upon arrival, he was promptly arrested, and found to be carrying the agreed-upon money and a condom.
As part of his sentence, Giles is required to register as a sex offender with the Pennsylvania State Police for the rest of his life, ensuring that communities can be aware of his presence and past actions.
Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick led the prosecution of this case, with Detective Sergeant Steven Heinly of the West Lampeter Township Police Department filing the charges.
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