(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) A former state auditor from Cranberry Township who is accused of attempting to procure child sexual abuse material had his charges held for court when he appeared for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Thirty-two-year-old Eric Zachary Trylko had communicated with a representative of Predator Poachers, which is an online sexual predator-hunting group, and that group was posing as a 13-year-old boy on Telegram, according to charging documents. 

The documents state that an investigation was turned over to Cranberry Township police after Trylko had communicated with the decoy about engaging in sexual acts. 

He was charged on September 23rd with one felony count each of criminal attempt to procure child sexual abuse material and criminal use of a communication facility.

He was held in Butler County Prison from September 23rd to September 29th before posting bail of $100,000.

However, police confirmed that Trylko admitted he previously received inappropriate images and videos from at least three minors. 

The formal arraignment for Trylko is scheduled for 1 p.m. on December 22nd.