Man charged with indecent assault, producing child porn

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP >> A 29-year-old Crum Lynne resident has been arrested on two dozen felony counts of producing child pornography, county District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced Wednesday.

“By the defendant’s own admission, this arrest prevented additional acts of abuse against children,” Stollsteimer said in a release. “We may not fully understand the pathology that causes someone to engage in these horrible acts, but, thankfully, we have skilled law enforcement agents who are willing to do what it takes to intercept and stop them.”

Jason Eric Hasson faces a total of 54 counts, according to online court records, including producing and possessing child por

nography, indecent assault against a person less than 13 years old, criminal use of a communication facility and corruption of a minor, all felonies.

His arrest was the result of a joint undercover investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and detectives from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to the release.

Hasson allegedly chatted online with agents posing as the father of a 9-yearold girl and told them he wanted to meet the child for sex. During communications, Hasson told the agents he was touching a child, the release says. Surveillance by Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division detectives confirmed some small children had moved into Hasson’s residence, the release says.

A search warrant was obtained and executed at Hasson’s residence Tuesday, according to the release. Hasson allegedly acknowledged at that time that he had child pornography depicting two minor females on his cell phone.

A forensic investigation revealed 12 videos depicting the minor victims having their pants pulled down and recording their buttocks and/or vagina, the release states. Hasson also admitted during questioning that he had masturbated onto the children as they slept, the release says – including just before investigators served the search warrant.

“As we come to the end of Child Abuse Prevention Month, I want to state again unequivocally that child pornography is a form of child abuse,” said Stollsteimer. “It is not a victimless crime – the absence of a physical scar does not make it any less a form of abuse. My office, together with all the members of the ICAC, remain committed to working ceaselessly to arrest and prosecute anyone who engages in this despicable conduct.”

Stollsteimer commended ICAC Task Force Commander Detective Sergeant Kenneth Bellis and CID Detective Edmond Pisani, as well as the members of the CID Child Abuse and Exploitation Task Force.

“We are also enormously grateful to the men and women of the FBI, the OAG, and the Ridley Police Department and the Tinicum Police Department,” Stollsteimer said. “This case was the result the cooperation and teamwork of everyone involved and exemplifies law enforcement at its very best.”

Hasson was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Philip S. Turner, who set bail at 10% of $500,000. Hasson was unable to post bail and has been remanded to the county jail in Concord. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 10 before Judge Turner. No defense attorney is listed on court records.

Jason Eric Hasson