ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. — The case against the former president of a York County youth softball organization accused of soliciting lewd photographs from a Lancaster County minor will proceed to trial after the suspect waived his preliminary hearing, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday.
Jeffrey Tierno Jr., 32, of Dover, is charged with solicitation of sexual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communication facility and corruption of minors, according to prosecutors.
Tierno resigned his position as president of South Central PA Softball Inc. on Oct. 6, after the charges against him were filed by investigators with the Elizabethtown Borough Police Department.
Police claim Tierno was in contact with a 16-year-old resident of the borough through Facebook and Snapchat. He allegedly asked the victim to send him nude photographs and engaged in lewd conversations.
The Lancaster County Children’s Alliance conducted a forensic interview of the victim, who disclosed he knew the defendant and that the conversations turned sexual even after telling the defendant he was 16, according to police.
The juvenile said Tierno offered in a message to send him a photo of himself, and asked the juvenile to send a nude photo in return, according to police. The juvenile said they told Tierno that he would not send any photos because it would be child pornography if he did.
Tierno then said he could show the juvenile in person, the victim told police.
In an interview with Elizabethtown Police on Sept. 14, Tierno allegedly admitted that he engaged in inappropriate conversations with the victim.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa is prosecuting the case. Elizabethtown Police Department Detective Edward Wengiel filed charges.
