WILKES-BARRE — Maintaining full-time employment was the deciding factor for John Edward Titus not being sentenced to state prison on Thursday.
Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough structured Titus’ sentence to one to two years, less two days, at the county correctional facility on charges of criminal attempt to commit unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of communication facility. Titus, 61, of Shickshinny, pled guilty to the charges Nov. 4.
Kingston police charged Titus in June 2024, after a cooperating witness provided online communications that involved Titus soliciting who he believed was a teen boy for sex, according to court records.
Titus showed up at a pre-determined location in Kingston, believing he was meeting the child, but was confronted by the cooperating witness. On the same day of the confrontation with the cooperating witness, Titus surrendered to police, court records say.
In court Thursday, Titus apologized for his actions.
“I’m sorry for what I did; I wish I could go back and change things,” Titus said.
Vough considered a state prison sentence, but after hearing a strong argument from Titus’ attorney, Frank Nocito, and Titus himself, the judge sentenced Titus to the county correctional facility due to Titus being employed.
Titus was made eligible for the prison’s work release program.
“You’re lucky you have a full-time job,” Vough said to Titus.
Titus was also sentenced to three years probation and is subject to 25 years of registration of his address under the state’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
