Alleged child pornographers waive hearing

Couple accused of making child porn to be arraigned next month

RDLEY PARK » Two people accused of producing child pornography waived a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Michael A. Burns Wednesday and will be formally arraigned at the County Courthouse in Media next month.

Matteo Thomas Arriaga, 20, of the 200 block of West Ridley Avenue, was initially charged January 14 with 25 counts of possessing child pornography and 25 counts criminal use of a communication facility after he allegedly uploaded offensive material on the social media platform Snapchat.

Investigators seized four Apple iPhones, two laptops, a custom PC and two external hard drives during a search of Arriaga’s home at that time and found the 25 alleged images that resulted in those charges, according to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest written by Delaware County Detective Lisa DeMartini, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

County Detective Christopher A. Tankelewicz conducted a more thorough forensic investigation and alerted DeMartini that he had found 271 videos of child pornography, including a 23-second video clip recorded on Arriaga’s phone in a Snapchat message thread with a person identified as “Gia,” a new affidavit filed last week says.

In the thread, Arriaga allegedly says, “Save dem and do different stuff than we did wit (a girl’s name) (sic).” The person identified as “Gia” allegedly responds, “I can’t save them I already sent themmm (sic).”

The thread allegedly includes a video of a woman’s hand holding an infant’s feet. The video is focused on the infant’s genital area and depicts a person’s hand touching and exposing the child’s vagina, according to the affidavit. The video file was allegedly create June 25, 2021.

A search of Arriaga’s phone provided a contact and associated number for “Gia,” who investigators have identified as Gia Cubler, also known as Gia Carroll, according to the affidavit. Tankelewicz also found another 23-second video of an female infant being sexually abused that was sent by SMS message from the contact “Gia” to Arriaga’s phone, the affidavit says. Tankelewicz found that video was created July 21, 2021, according to the affidavit.

Cubler, 20, of the 100 block of Crum Creek Drive in Woodlyn, had the phone she allegedly used to send the videos on her when she was interviewed by investigators last month, an affidavit for her arrest says. Cubler allegedly admitted to making the videos and sending them to Arriaga at his request. The offenses took place in Norwood, according to the affidavit.

Arriaga and Cubler also allegedly discussed making more child pornography after she sent the videos, according to his affidavit. Cubler texted Arriaga, “What should I do nexttt (sic)” to which he replied, “Idk, get creative, watch stuff and do what they do I guess, u got ur tongue, ur (cat emoji) stuff like that idk (sic),” according to the affidavit.

Arriaga allegedly texted

Cubler, “U lack bro, difference between me and you. I actually get shit.” When Cubler replied that it was “difficult” to record more child pornography, Arriaga allegedly told her, “U don know what I doin (sic).”

Investigators ultimately found 271 unique videos and 156 unique images of child pornography on Arriaga’s phone, according to the affidavit, including 30 images and eight videos of infant or toddler aged children and one video depicting sado-masochism and violence.

Arriaga had previously posted $10,000 bail following his first arrest in January. He was arraigned again in May on 214 new charges including sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault with a person less than 13 years old, production and dissemination of child pornography, conspiracy, endangering the welfare of children, and approximately 100 new counts of possessing child pornography.

Cubler is facing 22 counts including production, distribution and possession of child pornography, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault with a person less than 13 years old, endangering the welfare of children and conspiracy.

Both defendants have been remanded to the county jail in Concord on $500,000 cash bail. Formal arraignment is scheduled for July 20.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer called the alleged offenses “horrendous.” He said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone who may have more information about the case or defendants to reach out to law enforcement.