BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Kentucky man, Zachary Lee McCauley, 29, has been charged with sex trafficking a 13-year-old girl from Bucks County, coercing her into sexual acts with two adult men in a disturbing case of child exploitation that unfolded in October 2024.
According to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, McCauley faces a wide range of charges, including:
One count each of:
Trafficking in individuals
Sexual exploitation of children
Corruption of minors
Criminal use of a communication facility
Three counts each of:
Unlawful contact with a minor
Sexual abuse of children
Solicitation charges, including:
Statutory sexual assault
Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude
Aggravated indecent assault
Sexual abuse of children
The investigation, led by Bucks County Detectives, found that McCauley groomed the minor online, using fear and manipulation to force the victim into sexual encounters with two adult men, aged 67 and 42, on three separate occasions. Authorities also confirmed that at least one incident was recorded via Snapchat video call.
McCauley is currently being held in Kentucky, pending extradition to Pennsylvania.
Officials say the case is a grim reminder of the dangers children face online and the lengths predators will go to exploit vulnerable minors. Law enforcement encourages parents and guardians to monitor online activity closely and to report any suspicious contact with minors immediately.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges or arrests may follow as more details emerge.
