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July 16, 2010

Porn charges filed against Edinburg man

By Staff New Castle News

NEW CASTLE — Pennsylvania State Police have charged an Edinburg man with possessing and distributing child pornography.

Russell James Horner, 22, of Holly Lane was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Jennifer L. Nicholson. She set his bond at $10,000. Horner was placed in the Lawrence County jail.

He will answer to 22 felony charges: possession of child pornography, 19 counts; sexual abuse of children/possession of child pornography; dissemination of material depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such act; and criminal use of a communication facility.

Accessing a file-sharing network, an officer with the state police’s Computer Crime Unit conducted an undercover investigation on March 28. He browsed Horner’s computer files and reportedly located 11 movie files and nine images showing children under the age of 18 engaged or simulating sexual acts.

The officer also stated Horner used the Internet to transmit movie files containing child pornography.

A week later, Internet provider Comcast fulfilled a court’s order to reveal Horner’s identity using his IP number.

Police searched Horner’s home on June 10 and seized a computer. An examination of the computer reportedly uncovered pornographic movies and images involving children.

In his criminal complaint, the officer said Horner admitted to the alleged crimes.

Horner’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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