PLEASANT GAP – Not long after a local man was charged with trying to lure a minor female for sex online in 2023, a young woman has stepped forward to accuse him of soliciting her for sex in 2011.

Fifty-four-year-old Christopher Z. Morelli’s bail was denied Friday and he was committed to the Centre County Prison on charges of Solicitation to commit the crime of statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors, according to the Centre County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s office issued the following statement this morning:

“On Dec. 20, 2023, your affiant arrested Christopher Morelli for unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a telecommunication facility after a joint undercover investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The charges resulted from Morelli’s contact with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 14 year old female.

“After Morelli’s arrest, (police) were contacted by a female, who, hereafter, will be referred to as ‘victim.’

“The victim reported that she was victimized by Morelli in the fall of 2011, when she was 14 years old. Morelli would have been 42 years old at the time of the communications.

“On Jan, 2, police met with the victim, who provided evidence, in the form of The messages were from the Facebook name “Chris Morelli.” The profile photo associated with this account contained the same photo and account referenced in the previous referenced case.

“The victim stated that she met Morelli through her youth soccer team. He was one of the coaches. Your affiant checked Morelli’s Facebook page found a September 2011 photo of him

“The victim stated that she went over to Morelli’s house in September 2011. “There, he provided she and her friend with alcohol, and they went swimming together. She described the house as a ranch style home with a driveway to the left of the house. She also described the house as having a pool beside the driveway.

“The victim stated that there were no other people present during the swimming incident other than Morelli and the two minors.

“Police viewed Centre County GIS photos that confirmed there was a pool at Morelli’s home. The victim stated that shortly after this incident she received messages from Morelli on Facebook.

“The messages began in October of 2011. Morelli wrote to talk to the victim about her time at his house swimming and his wishes for her to return alone.

“The victim stated that shortly after this incident she received messages from Morelli on Facebook.

“The messages began in October of 2011. Morelli wrote to talk to the victim about her time at his house swimming and his wishes for her to return alone, the DA said.

The DA said The minor victim stops talking to Morelli after the conversations become even more inappropriate.

Morelli then attempts to contact the minor victim multiple times over the next few months. The minor victim does not respond, police allege.