SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — An Old Forge man will spend decades in state prison after being sentenced on dozens of felony child pornography charges in Lackawanna County.
According to the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, Sterling Barnes was sentenced by Judge Andrew Jarbola to 18 1/2 to 45 years in a state correctional institution.
Prosecutors said Barnes was convicted on 45 felony counts connected to child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began last year after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received cyber tips from Google and Dropbox reporting suspected child sexual abuse material being viewed and uploaded from Barnes’ residence.
Detectives with the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office later obtained and executed a search warrant at the home.
Investigators said they discovered online chats allegedly showing Barnes communicating with unknown individuals while seeking child sexual abuse material.
According to prosecutors, Barnes later admitted during an interview with investigators that he viewed and uploaded child sexual abuse material using several social media platforms, primarily Telegram.
Authorities also said Barnes admitted to previously paying to receive child sexual abuse material.
“Crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography remain a top priority for our law enforcement team in Lackawanna County,” District Attorney Brian Gallagher said in a statement.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who prey upon and exploit children online will be aggressively investigated, prosecuted, and held fully accountable.”
The investigation was conducted by detectives with the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office and members of the Pennsylvania State Police Northeast Computer Crimes Task Force.
Upon release from prison, Barnes will be required to register annually as a sex offender under Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offenders Registration and Notification Act, commonly known as SORNA.