Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 66-year-old Mark Jacobell of Buffalo pleaded guilty before Buffalo City Court Judge Barbara Johnson-Lee to one count of Attempted Sexual Misconduct, a Class “B” misdemeanor. The defendant pleaded guilty on Friday, September 18, 2020.

On Friday, November 15, 2019, at approximately 2:45 p.m., the defendant attempted to meet a person whom he believed to be a 15-year-old male at a location on Delaware and Hertel Avenues in the City of Buffalo to engage in sexual conduct. The defendant contacted the teenage victim through a social media application.

Jacobell faces up to 90 days in jail when he is sentenced on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. He remains released on his own recognizance.

DA Flynn commends the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department Special Victims Unit for their collaborative effort in this investigation, including Detective Caruso of the Buffalo Police Department and Det. Hockwater of the Cheektowaga Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cathleen M. Roemer of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.