Petition Calls For Radnor Commissioner Facing Child Porn Charges To Step Down

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – As Radnor Township deals with fallout of Commissioner Phil Ahr recent child pornography charges, residents want him gone from the Board of Commissioners after Ahr stated he will maintain his Ward 7 seat despite the allegations filed against him.

An online petition was launched recently that calls for the Ahr to step down from his seat on the board.

"Phil Ahr has been charged with four felonies: child pornography possession and distribution, criminal use of communication facility and child sexual abuse, yet he is still acting as Radnor Township's Ward 7 Representative," writes Ali K, the person behind the petition. "Although he has not gone to trial and been convicted, the nature of these crimes and the evidence collected is more than substantial to warrant this vacancy. Furthermore, Ahr's time spent away from meetings and conducting Township business is large since these allegations came to light, leaving Ward 7 without a present Representative."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition has accrued just over 100 signatures of the 250 goal. The petition is available online here.

"If you are a community member of Ward 7 and registered to vote, please consider signing this petition," the petition says.

>>>RELATED: Radnor Commissioner Mentored Kids Before Child Porn Charges

Ahr, 66, recently stepped down as the Board of Commissioners President, and at an Oct. 23 meeting the board was unable to vote in a new president, leaving Vice President Elaine Schaefer the board's acting president.

In his announcement to vacate the presidency, Ahr said he will keep his seat representing the 7th Ward.

Ahr was arrested Oct. 11 on numerous counts of child pornography possession and distribution

charges for images that depict children as infants engaged in sex acts with adults.

Ahr, who was elected as the Board of Commissioners president in the summer, has been charged with 10 counts of disseminating child pornography, 50 counts of child pornography possession, 60 counts of criminal use of a communication facility, and 10 counts of attempted dissemination of child pornography, court records show. All of these charges are felonies.

Ahr is free on 10 percent of $100,000 bail and is slated to appear for his preliminary hearing on Thursday, Oct. 26.

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office