Hempfield Township, PA -- Pennsylvania State Police, in cooperation with the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office, filed charges against a Greensburg man accused of stalking and attempting to solicit sex from an underage girl at her bus stop. 

Michael Thomas, 71, was arrested by troopers on Friday. 

The victim, 13, reported to school officials at Hempfield Area School District that a man was standing at her bus stop, made sexual comments to her and offered her money. 

A school resource officer reported the incident to state police. 

The victim told troopers that her neighbor made concerning statements to her on the mornings of October 16 and 17, 2024. 

She told troopers the man gave her a $20 bill and during the conversation told the victim that she looked good and allegedly made inappropriate sexual comments to her. 

Troopers were able to identify the male as Michael D. Thomas. 

Upon being notified of the incident, the school district moved the location of the bus stop.

On the morning of October 18, 2024, troopers parked near the bus stop and observed Thomas walking through the intersection at the same time the victim would have been waiting there. 

State troopers confronted Thomas and subsequently interviewed him. He allegedly told troopers he made the statements to the victim because he said he was attracted to her. 

Thomas was arraigned and remanded to the Westmoreland County Prison on $75,000 bail. 

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.