DENVER, Pa. — Police have charged a Lancaster County man with possession of child pornography.
Michael Thomas Pierce, 50, of Denver, was charged after an investigation by East Cocalico Township Police, who began investigating in September after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The information in the CyberTip indicated a video file depicting an adult woman and a juvenile girl exposing themselves was sent through the Kik messaging app from an IP address in East Cocalico Township.
Police traced the IP address to Pierce's home in Denver, and obtained a search warrant that was executed on Nov. 22.
In an interview with police, Pierce admitted to using the Kik app to send and receive nude images and videos, claiming he was a member of a "swinger's community," according to the criminal complaint.
Pierce denied using the Kik username associated with the CyberTip police received, but a forensic examination of his phone uncovered evidence that contradicted his assertion, the complaint stated.
Police stated Pierce admitted to sometimes searching for files with the search terms "preteen" and "nudist families."
Forensic examination of Pierce's electronic devices uncovered more than 1,500 tagged items yielding file names and apparent downloads that were indicative of child pornography, police said in the criminal complaint.
In addition to possession of child pornography, Pierce is charged with a count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He was arraigned on the charges and released on non-monetary bail, according to police.
