Luzerne ‘predator catcher’ aids 9 arrests
Credited with helping catch county school administrator, 8 others
KINGSTON, Luzerne County — Authorities conducted a roundup last week to arrest nine men allegedly captured in online sting operations conducted by the Luzerne County Predator Catcher, including a former school administrator from Lackawanna County and a former correctional officer from Lebanon County.
Christopher W. Mazzino, the Valley View School District’s former director of literacy, turned himself in Thursday on felony child sex solicitation charges, while George E. Fies Jr., a former correctional officer at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, was jailed along with five others who were captured during a series of busts coordinated by Kingston police.
Kingston police Chief Richard
Kotchik said the roundup Tuesday was the result of Detective Stephen
Gibson following up on investigations initiated by the self-described Luzerne County Predator Catcher, Musa Harris, who has made a name for himself by posing as a minor on online social media websites and exposing alleged would-be child predators in confrontation videos that have gone viral.
“This batch right here is basically what you could say is round one,” Kotchik said. “We looked over everything. We saw that there was enough evidence after an investigation continued by Detective Gibson, and we found that there was enough to arrest and prosecute.”
Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said he “greatly appreciates” Kingston police dedicating so much time to the roundup of alleged child predators.
“Chief Kotchik and Detective Gibson have been working closely with our Special Victims’ Unit to see these cases through,” Sanguedolce said. “Although this step is one part of the process, both Kingston and our office will work until we can get these child abusers off our streets.”
The charges filed under seal included a complaint charging Mazzino with two counts of attempting to commit unlawful contact with a minor, soliciting to commit statutory sexual assault and criminal use of a communication facility.
Mazzino, 54, resigned from his position effective July 20 after being suspended due to his video confrontation with Harris, which was broadcast online July 4.
Fies Jr., 47, of Lebanon, is charged with three counts of attempting unlawful contact with a minor, solicitation to commit statutory sexual assault and criminal use of a communication facility.
During an arraignment before Magisterial District Judge James
J. Haggerty, Fies said he worked as a correctional officer for over 19 years until he lost his job in July.
Haggerty ordered Fies jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with bail set at $50,000 and a preliminary hearing set for Wednesday.
Fies was one of six men arrested during the sweep. The others are: Sean D. Lewandowski, 50, of Nanticoke; John Daniel Davenport, 26, of Shickshinny; Christopher J. Santo, 36, of Dickson City; Michael John Halye, 47, no address given; and Zachary John Mitchell, 47; no address given. They were each facing several charges, including attempted unlawful contact with a minor.
William Lee Lewis, 38, remained wanted on charges including attempted unlawful contact with a minor.
A ninth man was also wanted but police did not disclose his name due to safety concerns.