A city man was sentenced to two and a half to seven years in state prison after he pleaded guilty this month to attempting to meet a young girl he met online for sex, only to find himself caught in a vigilante predator sting.

Judge Jeffery Wright sentenced Daniel Hackel, of the 400 block of North Duke Street, after he pleaded guilty May 5 to one count each of attempted statutory sexual assault and disseminating child sexual abuse material, 10 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and a single count of attempted indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age. 

Hackel, 23, attempted to meet what he thought was a 15-year-old girl for sex in the 100 block of North Queen Street the afternoon of Nov. 9. When Hackel arrived, he instead found himself confronted by two vigilantes who called police.

The two vigilantes, both members of an anti-child predator nonprofit group, had been communicating with Hackel while posing as “Alexandra” for about a week before the encounter. 

Though citizen ‘predator catcher’ operations have resulted in successful prosecutions in the past, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office strongly discourages vigilante actions as they pose serious risks to themselves and others.

In an interview with police Hackel admitted to having planned to have sex with the non-existent girl, going as far as to furnish alcohol and handcuffs for the encounter. 

A forensic analysis of Hackel’s phone also uncovered more than 20 videos depicting young children being sexually abused.

When given the chance to speak before he was sentence Hackel declined to address the court.

As part of his sentence Hackel will be evaluated to determine if he is a sexually violent predator and must register with Megan’s Law for 25 years. 

Assistant District Attorney Samantha Tropp prosecuted the case.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Det. Isaac Witmer filed the charges.