TSA employee charged with sending inappropriate text messages to teenager

A man is facing charges for allegedly sending hundreds of text messages, some of them sexual in nature, to a teenage girl.

John Serak, 50, of Baden, was arraigned Tuesday night on charges of unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of communication facility, corruption of minors, criminal solicitation and criminal attempted indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old.

According to a criminal complaint, Serak texted a 14-year-old girl over a period of several months. The messages began with general topics such as school and then quickly turned inappropriate.

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Channel 11 News has learned that Serak is an employee of the Transportation Security Administration and a former Pittsburgh police officer. He was arrested at Pittsburgh International Airport.

"You know, kids go online and they make kid mistakes, but when they make those mistakes online, they're making mistakes in an adult world,” said Steve Dish, a detective with the Allegheny County Police Department.

The alleged victim a friend of Serak’s daughter. When she told her parents, they informed North Fayette police who then referred the case to the Allegheny County Police Department.

A county detective pretended to be the girl and continued to text Serak. During those text messages, Serak wrote, "So what [when] am I going to get my own special picture of you?" and, "If you were here I'd give you a big hug.”

Detectives said Serak also told the girl to delete the texts because if anyone ever read the messages, the two would not be able to see each other.

Dish recommended that parents set restrictions for their children, including a list of apps they can and cannot download.

He also said that at night when you’re putting your children to bed, put their devices in a safe place that is known to the parents but that children can't access.

Cox Media Group