Cheltenham man admits possessing child porn, awaits fate from judge

NORRISTOWN » A Cheltenham man admitted to possessing child pornography and is awaiting his fate from a judge after authorities discovered hundreds of images of such content on his cellphone.

Harley R. Strauss, 47, of the unit block of South Easton Road, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to multiple felony charges of possessing child pornography in connection with incidents that occurred between March and April 2021.

Judge Thomas M. DelRicci deferred sentencing while Strauss undergoes an evaluation by Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which will determine if he meets criteria to be classified as a sexually violent predator. Those classified as predators face more stringent restrictions while on parole or probation.

Strauss faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison on the charges. However, state sentencing guidelines could allow for a lesser sentence.

Strauss was permitted to remain free on bail pending his sentencing hearing.

Regardless the sentence that Strauss eventually receives, he faces a 15-year requirement to report his address to state police because of the nature of the charges under the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act.

An investigation of Strauss began in March 2021 when authorities received several CyberTips generated by complaints from various social media applications, including Kik Messenger, Facebook and Twitter, according to the criminal complaint filed by Montgomery County Det. Michael Henricks. Facebook, Kik and Twitter provided internet addresses that were used to upload the child pornographic material.

Through those tips, detectives uncovered an email address linked to Strauss.

“I reviewed all 11 images and found that the content was child pornography. The children photographed in the images and/or videos range in age from 2 through 13 years old,” Henricks alleged in the arrest affidavit, adding the images depicted children under the age of 18 engaged in various sexual acts or poses.

On April 2, detectives showed up at Strauss’s residence with a search warrant and Strauss provided a statement to authorities.

“During his statement, Mr. Strauss admitted to downloading, storing and viewing material that would be considered to be child pornography,” Henricks alleged.

Detectives seized a cellphone belonging to Strauss. A forensic analysis of the phone’s content was conducted, court papers indicate.

“In reviewing the media, including pictures and videos, I located 313 unique photographs and 73 unique videos of images of children under the age of 18 years old in various sexual acts and in various stages of undress,” Henricks alleged, adding 179 of the photographs and 39 of the videos were of children under the age of 13 “engaged in prohibited sexual acts.”

Detectives alleged all 386 images or videos viewed were consistent with child pornography.

At the time of Strauss’s arrest, prosecutors explained that detectives with the Special Victims Unit of the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and specially trained and sworn detectives from police departments in Montgomery County routinely work with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to protect children from internet predators by aggressively and proactively investigating internet crimes that exploit children.

Assistant District Attorney Jediah Grobstein handled the case. Defense lawyer Scott David Godshall represented Strauss.

Montgomery County courthouse