HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a Blair County man regarding possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse materials — including artificially-generated files.
Joseph B. Hazlett, 43, is charged with seven felony offenses, and was recently arraigned when bail was set at $50,000 unsecured.
The case involves a felony charge recently enacted into law regarding artificially-generated files depicting children.
”These cases are extremely concerning because they involve a deep commitment to violating and abusing children,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I thank the legislature for recognizing the seriousness of this conduct and providing law enforcement another tool to protect children.”
The Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section proactively responded to a tip regarding lewd materials on SnapChat, and traced the materials to an IP address belonging to Hazlett.
Agents executed a search warrant last week and found the materials on Hazlett’s cellphone.
The cases will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Janie Swinehart of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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