Virginia Man Jailed for 11 Months After Disturbing Attempt to Pay for Sex with a Minor, Foiled by Lancaster County Sting Operation

Tanner IskraTanner Iskra /Submitted Image

LANCASTER, PA — A Virginia man has been sentenced to nearly a year behind bars after admitting to charges of attempting to have sex with a 13-year-old girl, announced the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. The harrowing incident came to light following a sting operation conducted by the Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Tanner Iskra, 38, from Stafford, Virginia, was handed an 11-23 month prison sentence on Friday. Iskra pleaded guilty in September 2023 to a slew of charges, including attempted statutory sexual assault (11 years older), attempted corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility.

Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick left no room for ambiguity during the court proceedings, stating flatly, “The defendant was in fact looking to have sex with a child. Nothing can change those facts.”

The chilling details of the case emerged during the court hearing. In June 2022, the Human Trafficking Task Force launched an undercover operation focusing on the online solicitation of minors for sex. Iskra responded to an online advertisement and began communicating with an undercover detective posing as a family member of a 13-year-old girl. Iskra allegedly agreed to pay $200 to have sex with the minor for an hour.

Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker, who handed down the sentence, did not mince words when addressing Iskra. He pointed out that the long drive from Virginia to Pennsylvania would have given Iskra ample time to rethink his actions. “But you didn’t,” Judge Reinaker noted.

Despite the fact that there was no actual victim involved in this particular case, Judge Reinaker stressed the severity of Iskra’s actions. He said, “This is very serious stuff. It didn’t involve an actual victim, but that’s no benefit to you. If it were up to you, there would’ve been a victim.”

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In addition to his prison sentence, Iskra was also slapped with eight years of probation. He is required to register as a sex offender with the Pennsylvania State Police for the rest of his life.

The charges were filed by East Lampeter Township Police Detective Christopher Jones. The case serves as a stark reminder of the tireless efforts of local law enforcement agencies to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from such heinous acts.

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