Delaware County Cop 'Sexted' Minor: District Attorney

HAVERTOWN, PA — A 21-year-old Havertown man who was a part-time police officer has been charged with corruption of a minor after authorities say he was sending sexually explicit text messaged to an underage person.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Justin W. Hazelton, 21, of Havertown, was charged with one misdemeanor count of corruption of a minor. Hazelton turned himself in Thursday.

According to the DA's office, Hazelton sent sexually explicit messages via SnapChat to a minor girl. Authorities said Hazelton was employed as a part-time officer with the Upland Police Department when the messages were exchanged.

The charges follow an investigation by Detective Steven Bannar of the DA’s Criminal Investigation Division.

Bannar launched the investigation after Delaware County’s Department of Children and Youth Services contacted the DA's office on July 17.

Children and Youth Services told authorities a minor was receiving sexually explicit messages from Hazelton after an attorney who was working on an unrelated matter examined the minor's cell phone.

Bannar interviewed the attorney then the minor, who confirmed she got sexually explicit messages on SnapChat.

Subsequently, detectives met with the Hazelton, who admitted to sending the messages.

Hazelton was arraigned and had bail was set at $50,000 unsecured. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3.