United States (Pennsylvania) - A city firefighter resigned this week after pleading guilty in Monroe County Court to having sexually explicit online conversations with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. Brian T. Moran, 36, of Scranton, who joined the Scranton Fire Department in September 1998, tendered his letter of resignation on Tuesday, city human resources director Lisa Moran said Thursday. City officials did not confirm the court case in Monroe County until later, she said.

"As far as the city is concerned, he is a former fireman who was arrested for off-duty conduct," she said.

Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Michael T. Rakaczewski said Mr. Moran pleaded guilty March 9 to one count of unlawful contact with a minor, a third-degree felony. Several other charges, including indecent exposure and corruption of minors, were withdrawn.

According to Barrett Twp. police, undercover officers monitoring Internet predators started investigating Mr. Moran on Dec. 13, 2008. During the online investigation, Mr. Moran had sexually explicit conversations with the purported 14-year-old and sent the minor a link to view his webcam while he performed a sexual act, police said.

He turned himself in at Magisterial District Judge John D. Whitesell's office in Mountainhome on Nov. 9.

No sentencing date for Mr. Moran has been set. Mr Rakaczewski said a third-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

In resigning from the Fire Department, Mr. Moran said only that he was leaving for other employment, Ms. Moran said.

She said the city has no policy requiring employees to notify city officials if they are arrested.

Written by The Times-Tribune