Law enforcement officers charged a Clarks Summit man with felony offenses related to possession of child sexual abuse material.
Jonathan Samuel Johnson, 32, of 514 Highland Ave., allegedly used online platforms, including Snapchat, to upload and distribute files depicting sexual abuse of minors.
He remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Investigators identified numerous files, including images and videos involving prepubescent children, as well as communications suggesting Johnson’s participation in online groups centered on the exploitation of minors.
Further investigation determined that Johnson used a cellphone to access, store and disseminate this material. A forensic examination of the phone uncovered dozens of files depicting child sexual abuse, according to a criminal complaint.
Additionally, Johnson was already subject to registration requirements pursuant to the Pennsylvania Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, aggravating the seriousness of the conduct alleged in the case.
Based on the use of unregistered internet identifiers, Johnson is also charged with five felony counts of failure to register with the Pennsylvania State Police.
“Clearly this defendant, who is sexually attracted to children, cannot control himself,” Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said. “Having already faced criminal prosecution in 2022, Johnson now faces a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence which we will not back down from.”
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 14 before District Judge Alyce Farrell.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the district attorney’s office.