250 Child Porn Images Found On Delco Man's Hard Drive: DA

A Delaware County man has been hit with felony charges related to child pornography possession after authorities recovered more than 200 images of child pornography on a hard drive in the his home, according to authorities.

Thomas J. Tomeo, Jr., 31, of Havertown, has been charged with numerous counts each of felony child pornography possession and dissemination, felony sexual abuse of children, and felony criminal use of communication facility, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office and court documents.

Tomeo was released from custody Oct. 6 after posting 10 percent of $75,000 bail, court records show.

The charges come after a a joint investigation from the District Attorney’s Delaware County Criminal Investigation (CID) and PA Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that looked into peer-to-peer file sharing programs for the distribution and sharing of child pornography.

Authorities from the CID and ICAC obtained a search warrant for Tomeo's residence and executed that warrant at about 6:10 a.m. Aug. 24.

During the execution, a number of pieces of digital equipment and devices were taken from the Tomeo's home, including a custom built computer, authorities said.

During a forensic examination of a hard drive, investigators found 250 images of child pornography showing girls between 8 and 12 years old, according to the DA's office.

"Those who possess child pornography contribute to the appalling exploitation of innocent children and our detectives with the ICAC Task Force are actively working to locate and arrest them," District Attorney Jack Whelan said. "I would like to commend Det. Edmond Pisani and the ICAC Task Force for their continued work to find and apprehend these perpetrators.”

Tomeo surrendered to detectives the morning of Friday, Oct. 6 at CID headquarters, authorities said.

He is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 12, court documents show.

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office