July 2—WILKES-BARRE — An Exeter man’s serious health problems weren’t enough to keep him out of jail after he exposed himself and sent lewd photos and sexual chat messages to a girl.
Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas sentenced Griffith Elias, 70, of Birchwood Estates, to four to 20 months in the county correctional facility on a charge of unlawful contact with a minor. Elias pleaded guilty to the charge on April 3.
Elias was also sentenced to 18 months of probation and was required to register as a sex offender at his address for 25 years under the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Elias’ attorney, Michael Butera, asked for home confinement with probation because Elias has serious health problems and is on many medications. Elias also cares for a sister, Butera said, who is battling cancer.
Assistant District Attorney Maria McCuskey argued for a prison sentence, telling Lupas that the girl’s father opposed her probation.
Lupas said a lesser sentence than a prison sentence would lessen the seriousness of the offense.
Elias was charged in August 2023 by Wyoming Area Regional Police after investigating a complaint that he intentionally exposed himself to a girl and sent the child inappropriate text messages, court documents show.
According to court records, Elias would encourage the girl to walk past his trailer, where he would expose himself to her. Elias also sent lewd photos of himself to the girl, including sexually explicit chats on a social media app, court records say.
Detectives from the Public Prosecution Service provided assistance with the investigation.
