ABINGTON MAN CHARGED WITH MORE THAN 100 FELONY COUNTS RELATED TO INTERNET CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

NORRISTOWN, Pa.–Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Abington Police Chief William J. Kelly announce the arrest of Daniel J. Flannery, 29, of Abington for more than 100 felony counts involving Internet child pornography.

Abington Township Detective Rick Beaghley, who is a Special County Detective for the purpose of investigating Internet crimes against children, was investigating a tip that came through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Internet chat service “Chatstep” contacted the center on June 3, 2016 regarding an image of child pornography that was uploaded by a user of its chat service. The investigation revealed that the image came from a computer at the defendant’s residence. A forensic examination of the computer and the defendant’s cell phone found more than 130 images of prepubescent girls engaged in sexual acts and/or in poses.

Flannery was charged with five felony counts of Sexual Abuse of Children (Dissemination of Photos/Videos/Computer Depictions/Film), 100 felony counts of Sexual Abuse of Children (Possession of Child Pornography) and five felony counts of Criminal use of a Communication Facility. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge John Kessler, who set bail at $50,000. The defendant is currently incarcerated at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., Dec. 23, 2016 in front of Judge Kessler. Assistant District Attorney James Price will prosecute the case.

The Montgomery County Detective Bureau along with specially trained and sworn detectives from municipal police departments in Montgomery County routinely work with the ICAC Task Force to protect children from Internet predators by aggressively and proactively investigating Internet crimes that exploit children. Approved for release:

Edward V. McCann, Jr. First Assistant District Attorney

CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE MERELY ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.