As part of separate investigations, agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section have arrested two south central Pennsylvania men accused of downloading, sharing and possessing child pornography.
Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said the arrests are part of an ongoing effort by the Attorney General’s Office to target the online sharing, downloading and distribution of child pornography. Since its expansion in 2013, the Child Predator Section has arrested 126 suspected child predators, up from 19 the year before.
“The exploitation of children will not be tolerated,” Attorney General Kane said. “Thanks to agents from our Child Predator Section, more children are safe as a result of these arrests.”
According to the criminal complaint, Eric Spohn, 30, 328 E. Fulton St., Lancaster, Lancaster County, used his computer to download and share sexually graphic images of children under the age of 18.
Agents executed a search warrant at Spohn’s Lancaster home and seized a computer, which upon a preliminary preview indicated the presence of at least 50 suspected child pornography files.
Spohn is charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography, seven counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Agents arrested Luis Rosario, 20, 1421 Continental Road, York, York County on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 following a four-month investigation into his alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.
The charges state that agents conducting an online investigation noticed numerous files containing images of children, under the age of 18, engaged in sexually graphic acts and poses being shared from Rosario’s computer.
A search of Rosario’s York home resulted in the seizure of three desktop computers, one laptop computer and an external hard drive, which will be analyzed by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit as part of a continuing investigation.
Rosario is charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He was preliminarily arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Richard Martin, who set bail at $40,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2014.
Both men will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
Attorney General Kane noted that on Jan. 27, 2014 Clarence Taylor, of Lancaster County was convicted following a three day jury trial. Taylor was arrested on Dec. 13, 2013 following an undercover investigation into allegations he inappropriately contacted a minor in the church, where he was an associate pastor, through Facebook. (Read the original press release here)
The jury found Taylor guilty of one count of solicitation to commit sexual abuse of children – for production of child pornography, one count of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Following the verdict, Taylor’s bail was revoked and he was remanded to the Lancaster County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 straight bail. Sentencing is scheduled for May 7, 2014 before the Honorable James Cullen.
Suspected Internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.