Michael D. Thomas appeared confused Friday morning when no one was at the school bus stop as usual in his Hempfield neighborhood, state police said.

A state trooper parked in an unmarked car nearby watched as Thomas visited the intersection just outside Greensburg, but didn’t find the 13-year-old girl to whom he is accused of making sexual comments, according to court papers.

Thomas, 71, was arrested shortly afterwards Friday and jailed on $75,000 bail. He is charged with solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and stalking.

Hempfield Area Superintendent Mark Holtzman said that school bus stop has been moved. There have been no other issues reported, he said.

The girl told a school police officer at Wendover Middle School and state police Thursday morning that the man made sexual comments to her and gave her $20, according to court papers. She reported he had stopped to talk to her at the bus stop multiple times over the past year.

She got concerned in the last couple days when he commented on her appearance and made a sexual remark, police said, while asking her not to tell her parents about the money. The girl recorded Thursday’s interaction on her cellphone, according to court papers.

After watching Thomas walk to the intersection Friday morning and appear confused, troopers said he admitted to making the sexual comment because he was attracted to the girl. He was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison.

Thomas did not have an attorney listed in online court records. An Oct. 30 preliminary hearing is set.

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