HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Crawford County man has been charged with possessing 50 files of child sexual abuse material.
Chad Allen Shelatz, 50, of Linesville, is charged with 50 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of criminal use of a communication facility — all felonies.
Shelatz’s bail was set at $200,000 and was not immediately posted.
“This defendant abused and exploited children by possessing and viewing obscene materials,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Our Child Predator Section will zealously pursue individuals who threaten the safety of our most vulnerable residents.”
Investigators responded to a tip in June and uncovered an IP address that was used to view the materials. The IP address was traced to Shelatz’s home. Agents served a search warrant there and seized multiple electronic devices containing child sexual abuse material.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 26.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Alison J. Bragle from the 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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