A Guilty Plea From Internet Predator #4
By: Andy Mehalshick
Updated: April 17, 2007
Yet another guilty plea today from one of 6 men nabbed in the I-Team’s ongoing internet sting.
Christopher Martin Gilbert thought he was coming to hook-up with a 14 year old girl when he got a big surprise. Now he may be headed to prison.
23-year-old Gilbert came to Luzerne county court Tuesday with his parents and lawyer. He said nothing outside court, but inside he told the judge that he will plead guilty.
Back in November 2006 Gilbert showed up at a vacant hotel in Butler Township, thinking he was meeting a 14 year old girl. Instead he was greeted by the I-Team and Butler Township police. Today in court he plead guilty.
Assistant District Attorney commented, "Today the defendant was scheduled to enter a guilty plea. His attorney requested a continuance so he can continue mental evaluation and counseling that he's been undergoing since his release from incarceration."
Prosecutors say this case should serve as a warning to parents. Bill Feissner of the Butler Township Police said, “Well what this shows this is a felony and you’ll probably do prison time. What we learned through all these stings and investigations no matter how much you tell potential predators about this, they will try to do it. Parents need to guard their children against it.”
Christopher Martin Gilbert is currently free on $75,000 dollars bail. He will formally plead guilty and be sentenced on July 26th. He faces serious prison time. So far a total of 6 men have been caught in the I-Team’s ongoing sting. Of those men 2 are already in prison. The other 4 have, or will, plead guilty.
