Glenside man charged with child porn

COURTHOUSE » A 50 year old Montgomery County man was arrested last week an charged with 45 counts of child pornography.

James Wheelock of Glenside was arrested on charges of possessing sexually explicit images of children and related charges, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Abington police Chief John A. Livingood announced Monday.

The investigation began after a witness contacted police and provided them with two images taken from Wheelock’s cellphone. The images depicted children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual acts or poses. A search warrant was executed for Wheelock’s residence and electronic devices, including his cellphone. A forensic examination found 45 images of child pornography on his phone, as well as messages between Wheelock and another person in which they spoke about wanting to sexually assault a 7-year-old child and 8-month-old baby.

Wheelock was arrested on Nov. 22 and charged with 45 counts of sexual abuse of children — child pornography and criminal use of a communications facility. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Juanita A. Price, who set bail at $100,000 cash. The defendant could not post bail and was sent to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Dec. 5 in front of Judge Price.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Brittenburg.

Digital First Media staff

James Wheelock