Police: Hempfield man solicited sex from agent posing as 14-year-old boy

A Hempfield volunteer firefighter allegedly set up a meeting for sex with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy through a social media messaging service, according to court papers.

But when Tyler Richard Byerly, 21, arrived at the planned meeting spot Thursday in Hempfield, he was arrested by agents from the state attorney general’s office.

Byerly posted $50,000 bail. Byerly, who worked at Fort Allen Volunteer Fire Department, has been suspended, said Madisyn Kush, secretary at the department and daughter of the fire chief, Neil.

Authorities said in court papers that an agent posing as the 14-year-old boy received a private message from Byerly just before 4 p.m. Thursday. During the conversation, Byerly discussed performing sex acts on the boy, police said.

But before they met, Byerly said he was afraid, adding “I don’t want to go to jail,” according to the complaint.

Byerly admitted to being the person communicating with the agent and allowed investigators to examine his phone where they found the messages sent between the suspect and supposed teenager.

Byerly is charged with unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault and criminal use of a communication facility. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records.

A July 5 preliminary hearing is set.