An American Airlines manager was arrested Friday after allegedly trying to meet a 10-year-old girl and her mother for sex during a business trip in Pittsburgh.
What Ray Howland apparently didn't know is that he was being set up in a sting operation. The 55-year-old Texan had posted an ad online "looking for a family or a couple of girls" to have sex with on his business trip, according to a statement released by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane on Monday.
In emails and text messages, Howland explained in detail the explicit sexual acts he wanted to engage in with both the girl and her mom, officials allege.
Instead, when he showed up in Moon Township in Pennsylvania on Friday, he met up with undercover agents. He was collared and charged with attempted rape of a child, unlawful contact with a minor and attempt to commit indecent assault, among others.
Howland's first hearing is set for July 7, and his bail was set at $150,000 at Allegheny County Jail. Officials are still trying to determine whether he had contact with any other, real victims.
Howland serves as a senior manager with American Airlines, WPXI reported.
A spokesperson at the airline released the following statement Monday morning, according to WPXI:
“American Airlines holds its employees to the highest level of ethical standards. Employees who violate these standards are subject to disciplinary action, which may include immediate termination. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and do not intend to comment on this case publicly out of respect for all involved.”
Kane congratulated officers from the Moon Township Police Department, hailing a "778 percent increase" in the arrests of child sex predators in Pennsylvania since 2012.
Today, we announced the arrest of a Texas man who traveled to Pittsburgh for sex with a "10-year-old girl." Mr. Howland...
Posted by Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General on Monday, June 29, 2015