A 35-year-old New York man has pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually assault a minor after traveling to Pike County, Pennsylvania, to meet a 15-year-old girl he had been communicating with electronically. Robert Poirier, of Vernon, New York, was arrested when he arrived at the agreed meeting location, where detectives found a bookbag containing condoms in his possession.
Pike County District Attorney announced Poirier's guilty plea in Milford on Wednesday, as reported by The River Reporter. Poirier pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit statutory sexual assault involving an age difference of 11 years or more, criminal solicitation for sexual abuse of children, and unlawful contact with a minor. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Poirier was willing to travel to Pike County to engage in sexual contact with the 15-year-old and asked for nude pictures of her during the electronic exchanges arranging the meeting.
The affidavit also states that Poirier sent an unclothed picture of a body part of himself during those communications before he was intercepted by detectives at the meeting location. He now faces a maximum of 27 years in a state correctional facility, according to the same report from the district attorney's office.
How the Sting Fits Pike County's Ongoing Crackdown
The case grew out of the Pike County District Attorney's Office Criminal Investigation Division, which investigated the matter, per the district attorney's announcement. Poirier's case involved electronic communications and a planned meeting in Pike County.
A comparable case: 54-year-old Jayson William Miller was sentenced by Judge Chelak to 33½ to 80 years in state prison and designated a Sexually Violent Predator. Miller had traveled to Pike County.
Sentencing and a Pending Predator Evaluation
Poirier is scheduled for a sentencing hearing before President Judge Gregory H. Chelak on January 8, 2027. Chelak is Pike County's president judge. Chelak has ordered the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to evaluate Poirier against the statutory criteria for a Sexually Violent Predator designation.
Under state law, the SOAB has up to 90 days from a conviction to submit its evaluation report, after which prosecutors must present clear and convincing evidence at a hearing before a judge can designate someone a Sexually Violent Predator, according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's process overview. A Sexually Violent Predator designation is being considered for Poirier.
What the Charges Mean Under State Law
Even without an SVP designation, Poirier's charges carry significant weight on their own. Under Pennsylvania's Crimes Code, Poirier pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit statutory sexual assault involving an age difference of 11 years or more. Separately, under Pennsylvania's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, an attempted statutory sexual assault case with an 11-year age gap is categorized as a Tier III offense — the state's highest registration tier — which requires mandatory lifetime registration and quarterly verification with state police, per Goldstein Mehta LLC.
Because Poirier lives outside Pennsylvania, his registration obligations will not end at the state line. Under Pennsylvania's Megan's Law, Poirier must register with the Pennsylvania State Police for life if he resides, works, or attends an educational institution in the Commonwealth, while also following the applicable registration law of whatever state he resides in outside Pennsylvania.
How to Report Suspected Abuse
Pennsylvania ChildLine's phone number is 800-932-0313, according to Spotlight PA. The Pike County District Attorney's Office also accepts child-exploitation tips through CrimeWatch for its Criminal Investigation Division.
