HARRISBURG, PA (WPMT) A Dauphin County man and a Berks County are among four men arrested State Attorney agents for using peer-to-peer networks to distribute graphic child pornography.
The men arrested recently by the Child Predator Section are:
• Troy Peiffer, 26, 26 W. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, Berks County;
• Mark Robinson, 33, 611 Calais Drive, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County;
• James Glass, 45, 548 Center St., Millersburg, Dauphin County; and
• John James Owen, 46, 61 Courtright Ave.,Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County.
James Glass of Dauphin County:
An agent conducting an online investigation discovered Glass was allegedly sharing a file depicting a five-year-old girl in a sexual act on a peer-to-peer network by agents from the Child Predator Section.
Agents executed a search warrant at Glass’s house where two computers were examined by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit and that contained suspected child pornography.
Glass is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Glass was arraigned and unable to post bail. He is confined to the Dauphin County Prison. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2015.
Troy Peiffer of Berks County:
According to the criminal complaint, agents successfully downloaded three files that allegedly depicted children under the age of 18 engaged in sexually graphic acts and poses from a device that was using a peer-to-peer network to share child pornography. Investigators were able to track the source’s IP address and identified Peiffer’s residence as the location of the person making the graphic files available for download.
A search of Peiffer’s Berks County residence located two computers allegedly containing at least 150 images and 15 videos of child pornography.
Peiffer was taken into custody and charged with 50 counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Following arraignment he was sent to Berks County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 22, 2014.
Mark Robinson of Allegheny County:
After determining that a user on a peer-to-peer network was sharing child pornography from Robinson’s I.P. address, agents executed a search warrant at Robinson’s residence in Allegheny County.
While executing the warrant, a desktop computer was examined by forensic agents.
During the preview of the computer, more than 200 files in various formats with file names indicative of child pornography were found. According to the investigators, this was just a sample of the amount of child pornography allegedly on the computer.
Robinson is charged with five counts of distribution of child pornography, four counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Robinson was preliminarily arraigned with bond set at $50,000 cash, which he did not post. He later waived his preliminary hearing.
John James Owen of Luzerne County
Agents conducting an online investigation downloaded five files depicting pre-teen children engaged in graphic sexual acts allegedly from Owen’s computer using peer-to-peer software.
During a search of Owen’s residence, agents examined multiple electronic devices and identified multiple files containing suspected child pornography.
Owen was taken into custody and charged with five counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
A preliminary arraignment was held and the defendant was remanded to Luzerne County Prison after failing to post bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 30, 2014.
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.
