WASHINGTON, Pa. — A high school student accused of running a sextortion network involving his classmates faced a judge on Friday.
A Washington County judge denied a request Friday to release Zachariah Meyers from jail pending trial, ruling that the court could not adequately address concerns about victim safety and flight risk if he were placed on house arrest.
Meyers, 18, has been held in the Washington County Jail since his arrest in February.
He is accused of operating a sextortion scheme in which investigators say he targeted and catfished teenage victims, most of them classmates at Peters Township High School, where he served as class president.
Prosecutors allege Meyers used social media platforms, including TikTok, to manipulate victims into sending sexually explicit images and videos.
During Friday’s hearing, Meyers’ attorneys asked the court to release him on bond with electronic home monitoring and strict restrictions on internet access.
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Forensic psychologist Dr. Beth Bliss testified that Meyers had no significant trauma history, maintained strong family relationships, performed well academically and was heavily involved in school activities, including serving as president of multiple clubs.
Based on her evaluation, Bliss described Meyers as a relatively low-risk offender and assessed him as having a “moderately low” risk of committing future sexual offenses. She also testified that Meyers appeared willing to participate in treatment and said internet restrictions would be an important component of any release plan.
Defense attorney Lisle Weaver argued that, outside of the allegations in the case, Meyers had been a model citizen and should be granted bond.
“Does that mean if there’s an internet-related crime, everyone has to stay in jail?” Weaver asked the court.
“We are putting the steps in place to prevent his access to the internet.”
Weaver said Meyers’ family had removed electronic devices from the home and argued that electronic monitoring would prevent him from leaving the residence except in emergencies.
“This case is well-publicized,” Weaver said. “If anyone in the community is contacted by Meyers, he knows he’s going back to jail.”
He also pushed back on the argument that internet restrictions could not be enforced.
“As for the impossibility of keeping someone off the internet, courts do this every day with no-contact cases,” Weaver argued.
Prosecutors countered that it would be nearly impossible to prevent Meyers from accessing the internet through devices belonging to family members or others.
Peters Township Detective Walker testified that all of the alleged crimes were committed from inside Meyers’ home.
“All these crimes were committed inside his house. He never had to leave his house,” Walker testified.
The detective also said Meyers repeatedly created new social media accounts after previous ones were shut down.
“He had TikTok accounts he used to abuse victims,” Walker testified. “TikTok shut down five accounts, and he created three more. There was no stopping him from doing what he was doing.”
Walker told the court that investigators interviewed numerous victims and families affected by the case, describing some victims as emotionally devastated and, in some cases, struggling with severe mental health challenges.
Prosecutors also pointed to the number of alleged victims and Meyers’ proximity to many of them in the community as reasons he should remain incarcerated pending trial.
After hearing testimony from both sides, Judge Traci McDonald denied the defense’s request for bond modification.
As he was escorted from the courtroom following the ruling, Meyers looked toward his parents and mouthed the words, “I’m okay. I’m okay.”
Meyers remains in the Washington County Jail awaiting trial.
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