Haverford man charged with possessing child porn
MEDIA COURTHOUSE » A 31-year-old Haverford man was charged with 65 counts of possessing and distributing child pornography Friday, capping a months-long investigation by Delaware County detectives and members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Thomas J. Tomeo Jr., of the first block of Woodbine Road in the Havertown section of the township, is charged with 15 counts of dissemination and 50 counts of possession, as well as 65 counts of criminal use of a communication device, all felonies of the third degree.
Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Detective Edmond Pisani initiated the investigation after downloading a file on the peer-to-peer file sharing network BitTorrent July 10 that contained several videos, mostly of child pornography, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Pisani identified the unique Internet Protocol address on the sole sharing computer and subpoenaed Comcast to provide the subscriber information. The Comcast legal department provided Tomeo’s name and address.
Pisani, Detective Sergeant Kenneth Bellis, detectives Chis Tankelewizc and John Hoffner, Analyst Brian Knowlton and Haverford Police Officer Mark Travaline served a search warrant at Tomeo’s residence August 24.
Tomeo did not admit to searching for child pornography at that time, according to the affidavit, but did allegedly say that “he knew if he were to talk to detectives about what he was doing it would get him in more trouble.”
When told that his IP address had been seen with more than 98,000 files of interest, Tomeo also allegedly said, “I don’t have that many files.”
Detectives confiscated several pieces of digital equipment from the home, including a custom built computer and Lenovo laptop. A forensic examination of the computer’s hard drive revealed 250 images of child pornography depicting female children between the ages of 8 and 12 years, according to the affidavit. The laptop also allegedly contained three videos of child pornography.
A keyword search of both devices indicated they had been “extensively used” to search for child pornography, and it appeared Tomeo had been downloading and then deleting files after viewing them, according to the affidavit.
Investigators also found another 4,697 images that may or may not meet the legal definition of child pornography, the affidavit states.
“Those who possess child pornography contribute to the appalling exploitation of innocent children and our detectives with the ICAC Task Force are actively working to locate and arrest them,” said District Attorney Jack Whelan in a release. “I would like to commend Detective Edmond Pisani and the ICAC Task Force for their continued work to find and apprehend these perpetrators.”
Tomeo surrendered to detectives Friday morning at CID headquarters and was arranged by Magisterial District Judge Lisa C. Lacianca. He posted bail of ten percent of $75,000 on the condition that he is not to have any contact with children or access to the Internet and must undergo a psychosexual evaluation.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12.