Sept. 13 – WILKES-BARRE – A man who was captured in an online child luring scheme by self-proclaimed Luzerne County Predator Catcher Musa Harris has been sentenced in Luzerne County Superior Court.
Presiding Judge Michael T. Vough sentenced Ralph Theodore Stoudt Jr., 40, to six to 23 months in the county correctional facility on charges of criminal attempt to commit unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility. Stoudt pleaded guilty to the charges on May 17.
Kingston police charged Stoudt based on information Harris provided in October 2022.
According to the criminal complaint:
Stoudt contacted a 15-year-old girl and introduced himself as a local firefighter.
Stoudt first contacted the witness online on October 3, 2022. Stoudt told the “girl” she looked sexy and did not interrupt the conversation when the girl mentioned her age.
The conversation became explicit with Stoudt, who sent nude photos of herself and asked for photos of the girl, the complaint said.
Stoudt sent more nude photos of herself and continued to communicate online about having sex with her. During the conversations, Stoudt claimed he had fallen off a ladder during a fire alarm and had to see a spinal doctor, the complaint said.
Stoudt was met by Harris when he arrived at a location on October 8, thinking he would meet the girl.
Stoudt must register as a sex offender at his address for 25 years under the state’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
