Two Crawford County Men Accused of Possessing Child Pornography

| May 4, 2015

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Attorney General Kane’s Child Predator Section has accused two Crawford County men of possessing child pornography.

The arrests were the result of separate investigations by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section, which now has arrested more than 350 suspected child predators since the beginning of 2013. The unit’s arrests have increased 778 percent in that time period.

“Protecting children will always be a top priority for our office,” Attorney General Kane said. “We will continue to work every day to investigate and prosecute those who prey on the most vulnerable.”

The men recently arrested by the Child Predator Section are:

• Johnny Victor Stevens, 42, 212 Bunday St., Linesville, Crawford County
• Brandon L. Hannold, 30, 11943 County Acres Trailer, Court 1, Guys Mills, Crawford County

Stevens arrest

2015_05_01_StevensStevens was arrested following an online investigation in which agents sought to identify persons using a file sharing network to obtain child pornography.

A computer was identified on a network sharing files containing suspected child pornography. That led agents from the Office of Attorney General to obtain a search warrant for Stevens’ residence.

The search, which also involved the assistance of Pennsylvania State Police, resulted in the seizure of multiple computers. A custom-made computer tower was also seized, which contained multiple files containing suspected child pornography, a preliminary review showed. The devices will be further analyzed as part of an ongoing investigation.

Stevens is charged with 10 counts of distributing child pornography, 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Bail was set at $50,000 at Stevens’ preliminary arraignment and he was transported to Crawford County Prison. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 14.

Hannold arrest

2015_05_01_HannondAgents arrested Hannold following an investigation in which they aimed to identify the possession and sharing of child pornography on peer-to-peer file sharing networks. A computer was found on one such network containing suspected child pornography.

That led agents to obtain a search warrant for Hannold’s residence. The search was conducted with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police and resulted in the seizure of several electronic devices.

A preliminary review of a computer seized from the living room showed files containing suspected child pornography. Evidence of the file sharing program was also found on the computer, agents allege.

Hannold is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count each of distributing child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility. Hannold was remanded to the Crawford County Prison after his bail was set at $70,000 at a preliminary arraignment. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 13.

Attorney General Kane thanked the City of Pittsburgh Police Department, the Borough of Seward Police Department, the Borough of Pleasant Hills Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance with the investigations.

The cases will all be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Anthony Marmo, 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.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)


Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

Tags: , ,

Category: Local News, News, Police & Fire Calls, Regional News