Ex Delco Lawyer Had Child Porn, Practiced Law Without License: DA

A Delaware County man and former attorney has been hit with numerous charges related to child pornography after an investigation by Delaware County detectives. Additionally, he was charged with the unauthorized practice of law and theft by deception, according to county officials.

According to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office, Brendan Magee, 39, of Clifton Heights, is facing charges related to possessing child pornography, the sexual abuse of children, and criminal use of communication facility – third-degree felonies – as well as the unauthorized practice of law and theft by deception for practicing without a valid Pennsylvania law license and stealing from a client.

Magee is behind bars after failing to post 10 percent of $350,000 bail on Aug. 25 for both crimes, the DA's office said.

Magee was charged following an investigation that began after county and state authorities were notified to someone uploading child pornography to a Google account, the DA's office said.

Investigators learned the address associated with the user was 507 S. Church Street in Clifton Heights, the residence of Magee, the DA's office said.

When executing a search warrant, Magee agreed to speak with detectives saying his account has hacked and had been shut down, denied viewing child pornography, and said he didn't even have a computer at the time, the DA's office said.

Magee allegedly became uncooperative when questioned more and said he didn't want to speak with detectives, the DA's office said.

Authorities recovered several devices in Magee's home, including a laptop and other electronic devices, which forensic exams showed more than 50 photos and one video of child pornography, the DA's office said.

In a separate investigation conducted by the same investigators, authorities learned Magee was practicing law without being a licensed attorney in the state of Pennsylvania, according to the DA's office.

Through the course of that investigation it was determined that his law license had been suspended by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in December 2016, after he failed to disclose that he did not have a valid Pennsylvania law license and had used another attorney’s registration number while representing a client in February 2014, the DA's office said.

Further investigation determined he failed to provide services in a child-custody case in December 2014 and unlawfully took payment, according to the DA's office.

"Individuals who search out and view child pornography contribute to the appalling exploitation of innocent children,” District Attorney Jack Whelan said. “Our ICAC Task Force is actively working to locate and arrest these individuals. I would like to commend Det. Sgt. Ken Bellis, the Clifton Heights Police Department and the ICAC Task Force for their continued work to find and apprehend these perpetrators.

"As an attorney, Brendan Magee fraudulently represented himself, showing extreme contempt for the law and a complete disregard for the lawyer licensing process," Whelan said.

Authorities believe Magee may have victimized others and are urging potential victims to call District Attorney’s Delaware County Criminal Investigation Det. Sgt. Kenneth Bellis at (610) 891-4717.

Magee's preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 7.

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office