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The West Earl Township Police Department, with the assistance of the Lancaster County Computer Crimes Task Force, executed a search warrant in the 30 block of East Main Street in Brownstown, as part of an investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography on Sept. 9, police said in a statement.
Detective Dawn Ray had been investigating a cybertip received from the Delaware County Internet Crimes Against Children Agency, which informed local police that Garth Bates, 50, of Brownstown, had uploaded suspected child pornography content through a Yahoo email account, according to police.
Bate's laptop, tablet computer, and a cellphone were seized pursuant warrant as part of the investigation, according to the release.
The electronic devices seized contained 606 child pornography related images, discovered during foresenic examining, the release stated.
Detective Ray filed charges against Bates.
The charges are as follows, according to his court docket:
- F2 Child Pornography
- F3 Child Pornography
- F3 Criminal Use Of Communication Facility (4 Counts)
- F2 Disseminating Photo/Film of Child Sex Acts
Garth Bates, with his attorney present, turned himself in on felony child pornography charges at Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Heisse’s office on Oct. 27 at 2:15 p.m., according to police.
Bates bail was set at $20,000, according to police his court docket.
His preliminary hearing has been scheduled with Magisterial District Judge Jonathan W. Heisse on Nov. 30 at 2:15 p.m., according to his court docket.
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