A Bethlehem man who produced child sex abuse videos was arrested last week while hiding at an acquaintance’s home with a gun nearby, according to authorities.
Noel Tirado, 41, was arrested April 13, Attorney General Dave Sunday said Monday in a news release. Tirado, who was wanted on charges from Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe counties, was found wearing a gun holster; a loaded 9 mm handgun was concealed nearby in a drawer, the AG said.
Investigators said Tirado had recorded videos of young children who were known to him. Additionally, he had photos and videos of child sex abuse materials, authorities said.
Tirado is charged with 10 counts of child sex abuse material, and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, filming computer sex act and a misdemeanor offense of prohibited possession of a firearm. He was sent to Northampton County Prison on $1 million bail.
“Our agents located and removed from the community a dangerous fugitive who is facing new charges for creating child sexual abuse material and for having a loaded gun while wanted by law enforcement,” Sunday said in the release. “We thank our local police partners for assisting in this warrant service and ensuring this offender was taken into custody.”
In addition to his latest charges, Tirado also is charged with escape, connected to an alleged incident in April 2019 in Wilson Borough, according to court records. He also is charged with making terroristic threats during an alleged incident in September 2024 in Allentown, and simple assault for an alleged incident in February 2018 in Stroudsburg, those records state.