HARRISBURG, PA — A Schuylkill County man is accused of exchanging thousands of messages with someone he believed was a pre-teen child and making plans to meet the child for sexual abuse, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against Robert E. Kroh, 67, of Kelayres, including felony counts of attempted unlawful contact with a child and sexual abuse of children related to the alleged possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to investigators, the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section learned from an FBI source that Kroh had been communicating online with someone he believed was a pre-teen child. Authorities said an FBI agent posed as the child and engaged in online conversations with Kroh, who allegedly exchanged thousands of messages through the social media app Snapchat.
Investigators said Kroh also allegedly made plans to meet the purported child in Connecticut in May.
Kroh was arrested Tuesday after agents executed a search warrant at his home in Kelayres. Authorities said the investigation also determined that Kroh allegedly possessed child sexual abuse material.
“This case shows what can be done when law enforcement works together and takes timely action to remove child predators from communities,” Sunday said in a statement.
The attorney general alleged that Kroh “made it clear to who he thought was a pre-teenage child that he wanted to meet for sexual abuse, and had every intention of doing so — before law enforcement ended his deviant plans.”
According to the attorney general’s office, Kroh was on state parole for a 2023 felony theft conviction involving the theft of a large amount of money from a church.
Court records show Kroh was arraigned on 14 felony charges. A magisterial district judge denied bail, citing concerns about ensuring his appearance in court and the safety of the community.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Mary Phillips.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.