Man charged with attempting to arrange sex meeting with teen in New Kensington

A Washington County man is accused of arranging to meet with a 15-year-old girl in New Kensington for sex in exchange for cash and drugs after answering an advertisement on a website offering escort services, according to authorities.

The girl was, in reality, a state law enforcement agent posing as a teenager.

James Edward Wade, 41, of West Pike Run Township was arrested Friday by agents with the state Attorney General’s Child Predator Section when he arrived at a predetermined location in New Kensington, according to his arrest papers.

Wade was charged with five felony sex charges, among them unlawful contact with a minor and attempted statutory sexual assault.

He is being detained in Westmoreland County Prison after a judge denied his bail. He faces a preliminary hearing Dec. 9 before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.

Wade was arrested as the result of sting operation that began with an advertisement placed by agents “on a popular website known for escort services,” according to a criminal complaint.

The advertisement was for two adult women, but, during conversations with one of them, he was “introduced to a purported 15-year-old minor female that was being offered for sexual services,” according to the complaint.

Wade is accused of offering the women $100 cash, an ounce of marijuana, three marijuana edibles and an unspecified amount of muscle relaxers in exchange for having sex with the 15-year-old and one of the women, the complaint said.

The offer was made during a conversation between Wade and one of the undercover agents Nov. 18, investigators said.

Wade told the undercover agent he was unable to meet that day because he was “watching his juvenile child” but said he would meet them the following day, authorities said.

After going to an agreed-upon location, Wade was met by two female undercover agents. He gave one of the women $50, while the other woman “went to get” the teenager, the complaint said.

Wade was taken into custody without incident, according to authorities, who said a condom was found in his pocket when he was searched. Investigators said Wade was asked to bring condoms to the meetup.

Investigators got a warrant to search the Nissan Maxima Wade was driving and say they found a cellphone, marijuana edibles and an ounce of marijuana.