New York Man Arrested in Warren After Attempting to Meet with a Minor

City of Warren Police, Warren PA

A 31-year-old man from New York was recently arrested and charged by City of Warren Police related to attempted contact with a minor.

Joshua Nowalk, a 31-year-old man from Otega, New York is currently behind bars at the Warren County Jail facing charges for an apparent attempt to meet with a minor.

According to police records, an online watch group from Erie, called the Erie Predator Catchers contacted Warren City Police. The vigilante group had obtained information indicating that Nowalk had been in contact with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

Per the City of Warren Police, the watch group stated that Nowalk had allegedly contacted the minor through Facebook and had arranged to meet them at a hotel in Warren.

Chief Joseph Sproveri of the City of Warren Police stated that the city police, in collaboration with Warren County Detectives, worked together to gather information ahead of Nowalk’s planned arrival.

They were able to locate him in town and detained him in a blue Toyota Camry near the hotel, where police also found a Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (vape) pen.

While in custody Nowalk waived his rights and admitted to arranging the meeting.

A preliminary arraignment was held on September 15th with Magisterial District Judge Todd Woodin, where Nowalk was sent to the Warren County Jail. 

He is facing four felony counts including unlawful contact with a minor and is currently being held in the Warren County Jail on $150,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 24th in Warren, PA.