Man Accused of Possessing Child Porn

Agents from the state Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit accused a Bethel Park man of possessing and distributing child pornography on his personal computer.

David O’Connell, 34, was arrested and charged on March 21 after state agents and Bethel Park police raided the Holly Lynne Drive home he shares with his parents.

Investigators said they began tracking O’Connell’s Internet usage in January and eventually discovered he was sharing files of underage girls performing sex acts on themselves and others. Investigators said O’Connell admitted to possessing several videos on his computer of underage girls, some as young as 8, performing sex acts with adults or other children.

O’Connell faces five counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of distributing child pornography and one charge of illegal use of a communications facility. He waived all of the charges to court during his preliminary hearing on Monday afternoon with District Judge Robert Wyda.

His bond was reduced to 10 percent of $50,000. If O’Connell makes bail, Wyda ordered that he is not permitted to access the Internet nor use a computer or mobile device. He also is not allowed to have contact of any kind with anyone under the age of 18.

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