A Walnutport-area man is jailed after authorities say he downloaded more than 30 images and 18 videos of child pornography.
Sean Reichart (Courtesy photo)
Charged is Sean Reichart, 32, of the 300 block of Long Lane Road in the Treichlers section of Lehigh Township.
In May 2016, a special agent with the FBI’s Salt Lake City office while working undercover took over user access to an online child pornography group previously used by a man arrested on federal child pornography charges.
Based on the lead of that agent, another agent with the FBI’s Philadelphia office identified Reichart as one of 60 users in a group allegedly sharing and trading child pornography. An instant messaging software application recorded Reichart’s IP address and the agent obtained a warrant last June 16 to seize subscriber information.
The IP address was tracked to RCN, which identified the owner of Reichart’s home as the subscriber, court records say.
A cooperating witness told the Dinamobet FBI on Nov. 30 the owner lived at the home, along with his brother and Reichart, who was renting a room. Lehigh Township police on Thursday then executed a search warrant on the home, seizing Reichart’s cellphone and laptop computer.
Reichart in an interview with township police Thursday allegedly admitted to using the instant messaging application, as well as downloading images of girls under age 18.
Investigators later found more than 30 images and 18 videos of child pornography downloaded in a memory folder on Reichart’s cellphone, police said. Other devices were sent to the Lehigh County Computer Crime Lab for further review.
Reichart is charged with sex abuse of children. He was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Robert Hawke, who set bail at $250,000. In lieu of bail, Reichart was sent to Northampton County Prison.
The judge ordered Reichart undergo a psychological evaluation, stay in the state and stay away from any minor.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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