Haverford chiropractor pleads guilty to possession, dissemination of child porn
MEDIA COURTHOUSE » A longtime Haverford chiropractor entered an open guilty plea before Common Pleas Court Judge G. Michael Green Monday to possession and dissemination of child pornography, both felonies of the third degree.
Dr. Samuel Joseph was arrested June 5 following an investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office that began Feb. 19 when Special Agent Brian King reviewed recent downloads from a file-sharing program involving suspected child pornography.
Files uploaded by a specific BitTorrent user Feb.
15 and 16 included numerous files found to contain child pornography, according to an affidavit of probable cause, including about
75 images of a 6-year-old girl posing partially or completely nude.
Investigators traced the BitTorrent user through a unique Internet Protocol address to a Verizon customer identified as Joseph Chiropractic, located at 912 Darby Road in Haverford, the affidavit states.
When special agents arrived at the location with a search warrant on June 5, Joseph was seated at his computer desk in his office. When King informed the doctor of the investigation, Joseph responded that there are two addresses at the property, the business and upstairs apartments.
Joseph was told the investigation concerned an internet connection assigned to the chiropractic business. An investigator then forensically searched the electronic devices around Joseph’s desk and found 58 images of child pornography.
“These images were found on a Dell computer tower that was located at the computer desk that Joseph was sitting at,” the affidavit states. “These images were similar in nature to the images that were disseminated by the IP address registered to Joseph Chiropractic” on Feb. 15, 16 and 22.
Joseph posted 10 percent of $200,000 bail June 6, according to court records. He remains free pending sentencing, set for March 13.
Deputy Attorney General Michelle Laucella said both charges carry a standard sentencing range of six to 14 months, with mitigated and aggravating ranges of plus or minus six months.
Defense attorney Vincent DiFabio said Joseph’s license is currently suspended and he is not practicing. Defabio said his client understands the conviction will likely have more lasting effects to his ability to practice.