GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Police in Adams County have charged a self-employed nanny with possession of child pornography.
Dominic Barbagallo, 43, of Gettysburg, is charged with sexual abuse of children (child pornography) and criminal use of a communication facility by detectives with the Adams County District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Brian Sinnett said in a press release.
Investigators are still trying to determine if Barbagallo had any further inappropriate contact with children while performing his duties as a nanny, Sinnett said. Anyone who has information regarding that aspect of the case is encouraged to contact Sinnett's office, he said.
Sinnett's office began investigating Barbagallo after authorities received a call from Pablo Rodriguez, who told police he is part of a group of people who pose online as children and interact with adults about sex and other sexual material, with the intention of confronting the alleged offender face-to-face.
Rodriguez told police he had his group members confront Barbagallo at a home on Wheatland Drive in Mount Pleasant Township regarding online conversations Barbagallo had with their group. Throughout the interaction, Barbagallo allegedly agreed to accompany two group members to a gas station to be interviewed.
During the conversation, which Barbagallo allegedly understood was being recorded, he allegedly admitted to possessing between 70 and 80 videos of child pornography stored on his cell phone and owned a "mega folder" of still images of child pornography that was likely between five and six gigabytes, Rodriguez reported.
Barbagallo also allegedly admitted to sexually abusing minor children while babysitting them. One of the children was allegedly 3 years old and non-verbal, he reportedly admitted.
Rodriguez and his group members contacted authorities, including State Police, who came and confiscated Barbagallo's cell phone.
A forensic examination of the device uncovered more than 100 images depicting child pornography, according to investigators.
