Pike County, PA — A 60-year-old Honesdale man is awaiting a preliminary hearing on multiple first-degree felony human trafficking charges after Pike County detectives say he traveled to Westfall Township to pay $150 for sexual contact with a teenager — who turned out to be an undercover detective.

Paul Stanley Christopher was arrested on April 2, 2026, following what authorities describe as an undercover operation run by the Pike County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. He faces six charges, including three first-degree felonies that carry some of the heaviest penalties in Pennsylvania’s criminal code.

Christopher’s preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for April 14 before Magisterial District Judge Randy Schmalzle, was continued at the request of defense attorney William D. Thompson Jr. of Clarks Summit. The hearing is now set for May 5, 2026, before Magisterial District Judge Cristin J. Cavallaro, who has jurisdiction over Westfall Township, Milford Borough, Matamoras, and Milford Township.

What the Affidavit Alleges

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in support of the charges, detectives at the DA’s office obtained information that Christopher was willing to travel from Wayne County to Pike County to engage in sexual contact with a 16-year-old child in exchange for $150. When Christopher arrived at the location in Westfall Township, he paid the money to an undercover detective. Detectives and Pike County Sheriff’s deputies then placed him under arrest.

Christopher was arraigned the same evening before MDJ Schmalzle, who set bail at $250,000. Christopher was initially taken to the Pike County Correctional Facility but posted bail through professional bondsman John David Rusak on April 3.

Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin said in a statement: “With our partners at the Pike County Sheriff’s Department we will continue to pursue those that would harm a child. It is quite alarming that an individual would be willing to pay to engage in sexual contact with a minor.”

The Charges, Explained

Christopher faces six counts:

• Criminal Attempt — Trafficking in Individuals (18 Pa.C.S. § 901/3011) — Felony of the First Degree. Under Pennsylvania’s human trafficking statutes, trafficking offenses involving minors carry a maximum sentence of up to 40 years if the offense is part of a course of conduct, and up to 20 years otherwise.
• Criminal Attempt — Patronizing a Victim of Sexual Servitude (18 Pa.C.S. § 901/3013) — Felony of the First Degree. A buyer who knowingly pays for sex with a trafficking victim faces F1 penalties, with mandatory fines of at least $10,000 when the victim is a minor.
• Unlawful Contact with a Minor — Sexual Servitude (18 Pa.C.S. § 6318(a)(1.1)) — Felony of the First Degree. This statute targets adults who use communications — including phones and the internet — to contact a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual servitude.
• Criminal Use of a Communication Facility (18 Pa.C.S. § 7512) — Felony of the Third Degree. This charge applies when a phone, computer, or other communication device is used to facilitate a felony.
• Criminal Attempt — Corruption of Minors (18 Pa.C.S. § 901/6301) — Misdemeanor of the First Degree.
• Restrictions on Alcoholic Beverages (75 Pa.C.S. § 3809) — Summary offense, indicating alcohol was found in Christopher’s vehicle at the time of arrest.

Because the charges are filed as criminal attempts under 18 Pa.C.S. § 901 — meaning the alleged victim was actually an undercover officer, not a real child — the grading of the offenses remains the same as the completed crime under Pennsylvania law. The attempt statute does not reduce the severity of the charges when the underlying offense is a first- or second-degree felony.

Not the First: Pike County DA’s Office Has Run This Operation Before

Christopher’s case is not connected to any other defendant, but it is not the first time the Pike County DA’s Criminal Investigation Division has used this type of undercover operation to target people seeking to pay for sex with children.

In a separate and unrelated case, a Pike County jury in March 2026 convicted Jayson William Miller, 54, of Red Lion (York County) on all five felony counts after a similar sting. Miller, who was arrested in February 2025 — more than a year before Christopher — had traveled to Pike County to pay $200 for sexual contact with what he believed was a 10-year-old girl. The two men are not co-defendants and their cases involve different alleged victims, different timeframes, and different investigations.

Miller’s bail was revoked after the verdict, and he was remanded to Pike County Correctional Facility. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 26, 2026, before Pike County President Judge Gregory H. Chelak. The Sexual Offenders Assessment Board will evaluate whether Miller qualifies for designation as a sexually violent predator.

Taken together, the two cases indicate that the Pike County DA’s Criminal Investigation Division is running an active, ongoing effort to identify and arrest individuals who seek to pay for sexual contact with children in the region.

Christopher’s Prior Record

Court records show Christopher has a limited prior criminal history in the MDJS system. In 2001, he was arrested in Lackawanna County on DUI-related charges — driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .10% or greater — along with careless driving and a traffic lane violation. All charges were waived for court. That case was prosecuted in Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas (CP-35-CR-0001101-2001), where the disposition is recorded as migrated. A separate Wayne County Common Pleas docket (CP-64-MD-0004856-2002) also appears in his record, though its details are limited. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to a speeding citation in Luzerne County.

Christopher is represented by attorney William D. Thompson Jr. of Clarks Summit (PA Supreme Court No. 310870). The Pike County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.

What Happens Next

The May 5 preliminary hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to hold Christopher for trial in Pike County Court of Common Pleas. If the case is bound over, it would proceed before President Judge Chelak — the same judge overseeing the Miller case.

Christopher is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Case Reference

• Docket: MJ-60301-CR-0000037-2026
• Defendant: Paul Stanley Christopher, 60, of Honesdale, PA (Wayne County)
• OTN: H 1018430-0
• Arresting Agency: Pike County Detectives
• Arresting Officer: Detective Lorin E. Gargan
• Bail: $250,000 monetary, posted via surety bond (April 3, 2026)
• Next Court Date: May 5, 2026, Preliminary Hearing, MDJ Cristin J. Cavallaro
• Defense Attorney: William D. Thompson Jr., Esq., Clarks Summit, PA
• Prosecuting: Pike County District Attorney’s Office (DA Ray Tonkin)