Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that the following defendants have been arrested for allegedly attempting to meet individuals whom they believe to be teenage victims for sexual conduct through social media applications.

Mark Jacobell, 65, of Buffalo has been arraigned on the following charges:

• One count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor
• One count of Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class “B” misdemeanor

The defendant was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Barbara Johnson-Lee on Monday, January 6, 2020.

It is alleged that 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.

Jacobell is scheduled to return on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

If convicted on all charges, Jacobell faces a maximum of 1 year in jail.

Erick Guigui, 50, of Amherst has been arraigned on the following charges:

• One count of Attempted Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, a Class “D” felony
• One count Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree, a Class “E” felony
• One count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor
• One count of Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class “B” misdemeanor

The defendant was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Kevin J. Keane on Friday, January 3, 2020.

It is alleged that on Friday, November 29, 2019, at approximately 5:45 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 Kenmore Avenues in the City of Buffalo to engage in sexual conduct. It is further alleged that prior to the arranged meeting, the defendant requested that the juvenile victim send him sexually explicit photos via a social media application.

Guigui is scheduled to return on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was released on his own recognizance.

If convicted on all charges, Guigui faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

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 cases are being prosecuted by Chief Rosanne E. Johnson of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.