Police: Sex offender offered boy pot, alcohol
A registered sex offender from Greene County who works in Washington used an alias on Facebook to contact a 14-year-old boy and then requested sex from him in exchange for marijuana and alcohol, according to Allegheny County police.
Police arrested Joseph Rodney Thomas, 41, who is accused of meeting with the teenager at Round Hill Park in Elizabeth. Thomas is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of a minor, corruption of minors, prohibited acts, and selling or furnishing liquor to a minor. Police have been investigating the case since Oct. 25.
Thomas’ address on the Megan’s Law registered sex offender website is listed as 519 Deerlick Station Rd., Sycamore in Morris Township. A representative of Labor Ready, at 919 Jefferson Ave., Washington, said Thomas is a temporary employee. The temporary staffing agency plans to investigate the charges against him before determining his employment status.
Allegheny police, who assisted Elizabeth Township police in the investigation, said Thomas used the aliases “Austin Thompson” and “Jay Thompson” on Facebook to contact the boy via Facebook messenger, and later contacted him via cellphone to request a meeting in exchange for marijuana and alcohol. According to police, the 14-year-old boy said he met with Thomas approximately six times within a three- to four-week period.
Thomas appears to be Facebook friends with numerous underage boys under his “Austin Thompson” profile, police said. He is described as a white male who is 5’8″ with short, cropped, brown hair that is balding in the center. He is missing some front teeth and has tattoos on both forearms. Police said he was driving a black 2008 Chevrolet Impala and has had both Ohio and Pennsylvania license plates.
According to the Megan’s Law registry, he was previously convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
Police are investigating at least two other cases in which Thomas may be a suspect. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Allegheny County Police at 412-473-3000.