Child Pornography Charges Filed Against Four Pennsylvania Men - One From Luzerne County
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s office today announced the arrest of four Pennsylvania men charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.
The Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section has now apprehended more than 140 suspected child predators in 2015.
The latest arrests were made in recent days following separate investigations in Northampton, Luzerne and Lycoming counties. The defendants are:
Anthony Henry Lezzo, 62, 123 Taft St., Wind Gap, Northampton County.
George L. Strickland, 45, 6 Pearl St., Hunlock Creek, Luzerne County.
Marcus Alan Bogden, 19, 70 E. Houston Ave., Montgomery, Lycoming County.
Wayne Stanford Keen III, 34, 1306 Park Ave., Unit 2FL, Williamsport, Lycoming County.
Lezzo charges
During an investigation into the online sexual abuse of children, agents discovered child pornography distributed through a peer-to-peer file sharing service.
The investigation led to Lezzo’s residence. Agents with the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Slate Belt Regional Police Department executed a search warrant. A preliminary examination of a computer at the residence revealed images of suspected child pornography.
Lezzo is charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography, 18 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He is confined to the Northampton County Prison after failing to post $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Slate Belt Regional Police Department for its assistance with Lezzo’s arrest.
Lezzo will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
Strickland charges
Strickland was arrested following an undercover investigation where agents sought to identify persons using a file sharing network to obtain child pornography.
During the investigation, a computer was identified with files containing suspected child pornography. The IP address linked to the computer was associated with Strickland.
Agents with the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Lehman Township and Jackson Township Police Departments executed a search warrant at Strickland’s residence. Multiple electronic devices were examined on scene by a computer forensics agent and numerous files indicative of child pornography were found.
Strickland is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, 74 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He is confined to the Luzerne County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 17.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Lehman Township and Jackson Township Police Departments for assisting with Strickland’s arrest.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
Bogden charges
Bogden was arrested Thursday following an undercover investigation into the dissemination of childpornography. Agents, who were conducting an online investigation, found a media file that depicted graphic images of children. The IP address associated with this activity was allegedly registered to Bogden.
Agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section executed a search warrant at Bogden’s residence and located a computer. A preliminary review of the computer by agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Computer Forensic Unit revealed multiple images of suspected child pornography.
Bogden is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, 28 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He is confined to the Lycoming County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 11.
Bogden will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
Keen charges
Keen was arrested Friday after an undercover investigation into the distribution of child pornography on a file-sharing network led investigators to his residence.
According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 19 agents with the Office of Attorney executed a search warrant at the residence. Multiple electronic devices were examined at the scene and numerous files of apparent child pornography were found.
Keen was located Friday and charged with two counts each of distribution of child pornography andpossession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He is confined to the Lycoming County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for today.
Keen will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones 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.)
