Pennsylvania man granted bail in Fall River Superior Court after alleged sextortion, grooming, of Somerset juvenile

A Pennsylvania man faced a judge Monday in Fall River Superior Court on some disturbing charges.

According to Somerset Police Chief William Tedford, in December 2025, the Somerset Police Department’s Patrol Division received a report that a Somerset juvenile had been victimized by activity referred to as “sextortion” through the Discord and Telegram social media platforms. Following the initial report, Detective Donald Cormier was assigned to lead the investigation.

Through court-ordered search warrants, investigators determined that the suspect, who used the online moniker “Ollie,” had engaged in unlawful online interactions with multiple presumed juveniles from various states. The suspect also sent sexually explicit items to the juvenile’s Somerset home address through the Amazon service.

Upon recognizing behavior consistent with online “grooming,” Detective Cormier began communicating with “Ollie” in an undercover capacity, assuming the role of a 14-year-old juvenile. During these communications, “Ollie” sent sexually explicit images to the undercover detective and requested, but did not receive, similar content in return.

Probable cause was ultimately developed identifying 22-year-old Sean Melko of Swissvale, Pennsylvania, as the individual using the “Ollie” moniker. An arrest warrant was subsequently obtained from Fall River District Court for the following charges:

• One count of Extortion by Threat of Injury

• One count of Child in Nude, Lascivious Pose/Exhibit

• Five counts of Dissemination of Obscene Matter to a Minor

• One count of Enticing a Child Under 16

• One count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Child

On March 9, 2026, officers from the Swissvale Braddock Hills Regional Police Department in Pennsylvania arrested Melko based on the arrest warrant obtained by Detective Cormier. After the arrest, officers executed a search warrant at Melko’s residence. Any additional evidence discovered during that search will be prosecuted by Pennsylvania authorities.

On March 30, 2026, Detective Donald Cormier and Detective Lieutenant Jason Matos traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to take custody of Melko.

He was transported from the Allegheny County Jail back to Massachusetts, arriving in Boston (Logan Airport) Monday night with Detectives Matos and Cormier.

According to court records, Melko was arraigned on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Fall River District Court and pled not guilty.

Melko was indicted in Fall River Superior Court earlier this month and was arraigned Monday on charges of:

• One count of Extortion by Threat of Injury

• One count of Child in Nude, Lascivious Pose/Exhibit

• Two counts of Dissemination of Obscene Matter to a Minor

• One count of Enticing a Child Under 16

He pled not guilty with bail set at $750,000 surety bond/$75,000 cash.

Melko has a motion hearing scheduled for June 2nd.