HARRISBURG, Pa -A Harrisburg man is among three men charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Child Predator Section has apprehended 43 suspected child predators in 2016 and 482 during Attorney General Kane’s tenure.
These latest arrests were made in recent days following separate investigations in Philadelphia, Dauphin and Lehigh counties. The defendants are:
- Robert Wayne Goshorn, 44, 6004 Jacobs Avenue, Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
- Gregory Towarnicki, 34, 4328 Comly Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County.
- Jacob Andy Torres, 25, 617 ½ Cedar Street, Allentown, Lehigh County.
Goshorn charges
During an undercover investigation into the online distribution of child pornography, agents found media files that depicted graphic images of children. The IP address associated with this activity led agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section to a residence associated with Goshorn.
Upon executing a search warrant, agents with the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit previewed Goshorn’s cell phone and other electronic devices. Several media files indicative of child pornography were located.
Goshorn is charged with nine counts of possession of child pornography, four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He is confined to the Dauphin County Prison after failing to post $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 10.
Goshorn will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
Towarnicki charges
During an investigation into the online sexual abuse of children, agents discovered a computer on a peer-to-peer network sharing media files believed to depict child pornography. The IP address associated with the computer was allegedly associated with Towarnicki.
Agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Philadelphia Police Department executed a search warrant at Towarnicki’s residence on Wednesday and located several electronic devices.
A forensic preview of the devices by agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit revealed multiple video files of suspected child pornography.
Towarnicki was placed under arrest and charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography and one count each of distribution of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility.
He was released from custody after posting 10 percent of $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for June 16.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Philadelphia Police Department for assisting with Towarnicki’s arrest.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
Torres charges
Torres was arrested on Friday after a joint investigation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
According to the criminal complaint, agents from the Office of Attorney General received information from the FBI in Allentown regarding a child pornography investigation. The information led investigators to execute a search warrant at Torres’ residence.
As part of the search warrant, investigators seized multiple computers for forensic analysis and located multiple media files of suspected child pornography.
Torres was charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He is confined to the Lehigh County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 10.
Attorney General Kane thanked the FBI for its assistance with the investigation.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Office of Attorney General’s 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.
