65-Yr-Old PA Man Charged With Luring Underage Boy in AC

A 65-year-old man is facing charges of attempted luring of a minor in Atlantic City after a concerned citizen posed as a 15-year-old boy on social media.

Atlantic City Police posted to their Facebook page Thursday about this luring case.

According to the police, on Tuesday, July 19, Atlantic City Police arrested Gerald Colapinto, 65, of Yardley, PA, on charges of trying to lure a minor child after what police are calling "a concerned citizen" posed as a 15-year-old boy on social media.

Colapinto reached out to the person he thought was the boy and attempted to engage him in sexual conduct. The person posing as the boy then confronted Colapinto and informed Atlantic City Police.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Jerry Colapinto was a math teacher at Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, PA, who retired in 2012.

After news of his arrest, the school sent an email to school personnel concerning Colapinto.

Police say that at 9:36 pm July 19, officers contacted the citizen and Colapinto. The citizen posing as the boy was able to provide detailed information about their communication online along with screenshots between Colapinto and the person he thought was the 15-year-old boy.

After investigating, police arrested and charged Colapinto.

”After verifying Mr. Colapinto’s arrest with the Atlantic City police department yesterday, we immediately notified the Bensalem police department of his arrest and then filled out and submitted the School Entity Mandatory Reporting form to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.”

Police don't say in their report how the concerned citizen knew to target Colapinto, or, why the citizen became concerned in the first place.

Colapinto is being held in the Atlantic County Justice facility, according to the police report.