Two men who admitted to statutory sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl were sentenced Wednesday in Bucks County Common Pleas Court in a case prosecutors say was set up online by an older recruiter pretending to be a teen. One man received a multi-year state prison term and the other a shorter state sentence, both imposed after emotional victim-impact statements and prosecutors’ push for aggravated penalties. Authorities say the meetings were arranged in October 2024 by an online contact who posed as a teenager to groom and coerce the child.
Sentences, pleas and courtroom reaction
Randy Francis Quinn of Coopersburg was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in state prison, followed by 10 years of consecutive probation. He had pleaded guilty last fall to two counts of statutory sexual assault, as well as charges tied to photographing and disseminating recordings of the abuse. Jon Thomas Van Ingen, who pleaded guilty earlier this year, received a 2-to-4-year state prison term with eight years of probation to run concurrently. Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. set both punishments in the aggravated range of state guidelines, according to Central Bucks Now.
Prosecutors pressed for tougher penalties
Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin M. McElroy asked the court to factor in the long-term fallout from the recordings and the way digital sharing can haunt the victim for years. District Attorney Joe Khan, in a news release from the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, praised detectives and prosecutors for their work sifting through extensive digital evidence and said the office remains committed to pursuing predators who target children online.
How investigators say the trafficking unfolded
Prosecutors say the girl was groomed online by someone who first claimed to be a 17-year-old named “Jake,” then pressured her to send sexually explicit photos and create a fake dating profile so he could line up encounters with adult men. Investigators allege the recruiter instructed the child to fabricate an ID, controlled a dating account in her name and arranged several meetings in October 2024, at least one of which was captured during a Snapchat video call. As reported by Central Bucks Now, prosecutors warned the court that each time those recordings resurface online, the child is effectively revictimized.
Charges against the alleged recruiter
The person identified as the alleged recruiter, Zachary Lee McCauley of Louisville, faces multiple counts including trafficking in individuals, sexual exploitation of children, corruption of minors, criminal use of a communication facility, unlawful contact with a minor and sexual abuse of children, according to a news release from the Bucks County DA. McCauley was arrested in Kentucky and is awaiting further court proceedings. Prosecutors say he used threats and deception to coerce the victim, and the District Attorney's Office notes he is scheduled for another court appearance in June, according to the release.
Victim impact and where to turn for help
In court, victim-impact testimony detailed the heavy toll the abuse has taken on the girl’s mental health, with family members saying she has required intensive therapy and medication. Remarks from prosecutors at the sentencing and footage from the hearing can be seen in a video by PhillyBurbs. Bucks County also maintains resources for parents and caregivers on online safety and how to report concerns through its Children & Youth page, which lists reporting contacts and support services for families.
The sentences take two convicted defendants out of the community, but prosecutors say the investigation is not over as authorities continue to pursue the recruiter and any additional leads. The case is being prosecuted by Chief Deputy DA Kristin M. McElroy and remains subject to further court proceedings.
