AG Kathleen Kane's Child Predator Section Announces Two Arrests
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane's office today announced the arrest of two Pennsylvania men charged with possessing child pornography. With these arrests, the Attorney General's Child Predator Section has apprehended more than 150 suspected child predators in 2015.
The latest arrests occurred during the past week following separate investigations in Allegheny and Bucks counties. The defendants are:
Stephen J. Ranalli Jr., 28, 3513 Stonecliffe Drive, Monroeville, Allegheny County.
Daniel Bruce Clark, 32, 1125 West Schwenkmill Road, Perkasie, Bucks County.
Ranalli charges
During an investigation into the online sexual abuse of children, agents discovered a computer on a peer-to-peer network sharing media files depicting child pornography. The IP address associated with this activity was allegedly registered to Ranalli.
Agents with the Office of Attorney General's Child Predator Section and the Monroeville Police Department executed a search warrant at Ranalli's residence on Thursday and recovered a laptop computer.
A forensic preview of the device revealed numerous files indicative of child pornography.
Ranalli is charged with 17 counts of possession of child pornography and one count each of distribution of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility.
He is confined to the Allegheny County Jail after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 14.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Monroeville Police Department for its assistance with Ranalli's arrest.
Ranalli will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Chuck E. Washburn of the Office of Attorney General's Child Predator Section.
Clark charges
Clark was arrested following an online investigation to identify those suspected of using a file sharing network to obtain and disseminate child pornography. A computer was identified on a network requesting images of child pornography. The IP address associated with the computer led investigators to Clark's residence.
Agents with the Office of Attorney General's Child Predator Section and the Pennridge Regional Police Department executed a search warrant on Thursday and located a computer and two external hard drives. A preliminary review of the devices by forensic examiners identified several media files of suspected child pornography.
Clark is charged with 50 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He was released from custody after bail was set at $20,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for Dec. 29.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Pennridge Regional Police Department for its assistance with Clark's arrest.
Clark will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo 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.)
