Man facing charges after allegedly harassing, touching teens at park

Investigators in Indiana County say Instagram messages and allegations from two teenage boys led to charges against a 40-year-old man.

"We see this and this type of the behavior they go to schools they go to parks they groom individuals and those are the types of things that fit the profile, and that's what scares us,” District Attorney Patrick Dougherty said.

TRENDING NOW:

• Police, agents conducting meth lab bust in Butler
• Boil water advisory in effect for more than 50 communities
• Jessica Simpson mom-shamed for daughter's Halloween costume
• VIDEO: Former MLB pitcher Roy Halladay dies in plane crash

Teachers and staff at an Indiana high school overheard an alarming conversation in the classroom and called police.

The boys told troopers Randal Pavlik messaged them on Instagram inviting them to his house and suggesting sexual encounters.

When the two confronted Pavlik at the 1st ward soccer fields in late August, they claim he touched one victim on the thigh and the boys ended up fighting him off.

"In this world, the internet and social media, Snapchat and Instagram, kids are able to be exposed to so many other things outside of parental control so parents need to be active," Dougherty said.

In court paperwork, state police say the Instagram account pictured above traced back to Pavlik

We asked Pavlik about the allegations in person.
 
He told Channel 11 not all of it is true.

"Yeah, I said some things, but I didn't do anything sexual. There was nothing sexual done,” Pavlik said.

Pavlik said while he admits to sending messages, he said he didn't know the boys were underage.

"I didn't know he was under 18 until he punched me and said you shouldn't be hanging out with 15-year-old kids and I said I didn't know,” Pavlik said.

Cox Media Group