While en route to meet what he believed was a 15-year-old female for a possible sexual encounter, Steven J. Melvin, 55, of James Street in East Syracuse, was arrested by New York State Police and charged with
- Attempted disseminating indecent material to a child, a class “E” felony.
- Endangering the welfare of a child, a class “A” misdemeanor.
- Forcible touching, a class “A” misdemeanor.
- Unlawfully dealing with a minor in the firstdegree, a class “A” misdemeanor.
According to police, the investigation began when the mother of a female child contacted police and alleged that Melvin gave her daughter alcohol and forcibly touched her in a sexual manner while at a residence in the town of Dewitt on August 20. State police initiated an undercover online operation which resulted in Melvin’s arrest for attempted disseminating indecent material to a child on today’s date.
Melvin was arraigned in the town of Salina and remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center in lieu of cash bail. The victim has been offered services though the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.
This investigation was conducted by the Troop D Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the collaborative efforts of the Mid State Child Exploitation Task Force.
Anyone with information pertaining to Steven J. Melvin is encouraged to contact the State Police at 315-455-2922.
