WILKES-BARRE TWP. , LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — Police in Dupont charged a man from Germany after investigators allegedly found him inside a hotel room Sunday with a missing 16-year-old girl from Wilkes-Barre.
According to court records, Fabian Leon Machon, 21, of Hanover, Germany, met the girl while playing online video games and later communicated with her through the Discord messaging app.
Investigators say the conversations eventually led to plans for the two to meet in person.
Court records allege Machon boarded a flight in Germany, traveled through two layovers and arrived Saturday night at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca.
Police say Machon then used a Lyft rideshare service to travel to Wilkes-Barre to meet the girl near her residence.
According to the criminal complaint, the pair later went to a fast-food restaurant on East Northampton Street before trying to find a hotel room.
Investigators allege Machon told police they eventually ended up at the Best Western Plus hotel on Concorde Drive in Dupont, where they engaged in sexual activity before police arrived.
The investigation began after the girl was reported missing to Wilkes-Barre police Sunday.
According to the complaint, Wilkes-Barre officers developed information that the missing girl may have been with Machon and requested assistance from police in Dupont.
Officers went to the Best Western hotel and learned Machon had rented a fifth-floor room.
Police said officers knocked several times on the hotel room door and heard a toilet flush before Machon eventually opened the door.
Investigators then found the missing girl inside the room.
Court records state Machon later waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with police.
According to investigators, Machon admitted he met the girl through online gaming and Discord conversations and said discussions about meeting in person began in March 2026.
Police allege Machon told investigators the original plan was for the girl to meet him at the airport, but she later asked him to come to Wilkes-Barre instead.
The complaint also alleges Machon said an unidentified person he met on the street helped them locate a hotel room in Dupont after several unsuccessful attempts to rent rooms elsewhere.
Machon was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Brian Tupper on a charge of corruption of minors.
He was denied bail and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility after investigators argued he posed a flight risk because he had traveled from Germany.