HARRISBURG – Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced the arrest of three Pennsylvania men charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.
The arrests occurred over the past week following separate investigations in Dauphin, Westmoreland and York counties by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section. The defendants are:
- Todd Lesko, 37, 301 Chestnut St., Apt. 914, Harrisburg, Dauphin County;
- Timothy A. Heffelfinger, 50, 323 Jackson Ave., Vandergrift, Westmoreland County
- Lawrence Posey, 28, 19 S. Lee St., York, York County.
Lesko charges
During an investigation into the online sexual abuse of children, agents discovered suspected child pornography distributed through a peer-to-peer file sharing service.
The investigation led to Lesko’s Harrisburg residence. Agents with the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section executed a search warrant Wednesday, and a preliminary examination of the electronic devices seized revealed suspected images of child pornography.
Lesko was placed under arrest and charged with four counts of distribution of child pornography and 22 counts of possession of child pornography.
He was confined to the Dauphin County Prison after failing to post $26,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 15.
Lesko will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Child Predator Section.
Heffelfinger charges
Heffelfinger was arrested Tuesday following an undercover investigation into the dissemination of child pornography. Agents, who were conducting an online investigation, identified a computer on a peer-to-peer network sharing media files believed to depict child pornography. Heffelfinger’s Westmoreland County residence was identified as the alleged source.
Agents from the Office of Attorney General and the Vandergrift Borough Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence. During the search, agents from the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit previewed Heffelfinger’s computer and found multiple images of suspected child pornography.
Heffelfinger is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, 11 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. He was remanded to the Westmoreland County Prison after his bail was set at $100,000 at a preliminary arraignment. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 12.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Vandergrift Borough Police Department for assisting with Heffelfinger’s arrest.
Heffelfinger will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Courtney Butterfield of the Child Predator Section.
Posey charges
Posey was arrested Thursday following an undercover investigation into the dissemination of child pornography. Agents, who were conducting an online investigation, identified a computer on a peer-to-peer network sharing media files believed to depict child pornography. Posey’s residence was identified as the source.
Agents from the Office of Attorney General executed a search warrant at the residence. Agents from the OAG Computer Forensics Unit previewed Posey’s computer and found multiple images of alleged child pornography.
Posey is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, 52 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. Posey’s bail and preliminary hearing information was not immediately available.
Posey will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Child Predator Section.
Reporting Child Predators
Suspected child predators can be reported to the Office of Attorney General by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. Individuals who suspect an online predator or child sexual abuse can also send an anonymous tip to the office by texting PAKIDS + YOUR TIP to 847411.
