MOUNT CARMEL – A Mount Carmel man has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. 69-year-old John Rochford was charged by the state Attorney General’s office with having 40,000 images of child pornography and 15 videos on his home computer.
The News Item reports he was arrested Tuesday morning following a two-month investigation. Agents say Rochford was using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to download and disseminate child pornography. Rochford is charged with 18 felony counts of sexual abuse of children and possession and dissemination of child pornography.
He was arraigned before District Judge Hugh Jones and sent to the Snyder County Prison on $150,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 3. (Ali Stevens)