A 32-year-old Cranberry Township man has been charged with two felonies after police said he sent sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 13-year-old, a person who turned out to be a representative from a private group that hunts online predators. Eric Zachary Trylko was charged Wednesday, Sept. 23, with felony criminal attempt to receive child sexual abuse material and felony criminal use of a communication facility.
According to butlereagle.com, Cranberry Township police said Trylko sent the explicit messages to a member of the group Predator Poachers, who was posing online as a 13-year-old. The representative told police that on Sept. 14 they were contacted on Telegram by a user calling himself “Jax,” who was later identified as Trylko.
Police said Trylko confirmed his real age, sent the representative photos of himself, described sexual acts, and repeatedly asked the person he believed to be a minor to send him sexually explicit images or videos. Per the same report, Trylko’s messages also claimed he had previously received images and videos from at least three other children, a detail that has not been independently verified beyond the police account.
Suspect Admitted Believing He Was Messaging a Child
During a Sept. 19 interview, Trylko admitted he had messaged the representative while believing the person was 13 years old, the station’s report states. That admission forms the core of the criminal attempt charge, which under Pennsylvania’s statute governing child sexual abuse material carries the possibility of a fine of up to $15,000 or up to seven years in prison, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Separately, Butler Radio Network reported that Trylko was placed in Butler County Prison with bail set at $100,000. Accounts of Trylko’s next court date differ: Butler Radio Network reported that a preliminary hearing had been scheduled for Nov. 6 in Butler County, while butlereagle.com’s Sept. 23 update said the hearing had yet to be set before District Judge Kevin Flaherty.
Who Is Behind Predator Poachers
Predator Poachers is a Houston-based organization founded by Alex Rosen that runs sting operations aimed at adults who seek sexual activity with minors, according to background on Alex Rosen’s Wikipedia page. The group generally builds fake dating-app profiles under false identities to draw out adults who then message accounts presented as belonging to underage people.
As of October 2025, Predator Poachers claimed responsibility for arrests in all 50 states and convictions in 41, though that statistic has not been fully verified. The group’s tactics have also drawn criticism from some in law enforcement, who have argued that citizen-run sting operations can create a form of mob justice and generate chaotic situations better left to trained professionals.
The case against Trylko remains in its early stages, and the underlying criminal complaint or affidavit has not been made available for independent review. No information on a plea or final court disposition has been reported.
