SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — An 18-year-old South Scranton man is facing felony charges following an investigation into the alleged possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material that began with reports involving Discord and Instagram.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher announced Friday that Sebastion McHale, of the 2200 block of Prospect Avenue, has been charged with possession of child pornography, dissemination of photographs, videos or computer depictions of child sex acts and criminal use of a communication facility.
According to a criminal complaint, the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received two CyberTipline reports involving suspected child sexual abuse material, commonly referred to as CSAM.
The reports originated with Discord and Instagram and were eventually forwarded to investigators with the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Court documents say investigators reviewed material associated with the reports and determined it depicted children being sexually abused. FOX56 is not publishing the graphic descriptions contained in the criminal complaint.
Investigators trace accounts to Scranton residence
According to the affidavit of probable cause, investigators used information associated with the reported accounts, including internet addresses and subscriber records obtained through administrative subpoenas, to trace the activity to a residence on Prospect Avenue.
Investigators said records associated with one of the reported internet addresses identified a subscriber at the South Scranton home. Authorities also linked a phone number associated with one of the reported accounts to the same residence.
On Thursday, Aug. 13, detectives from the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, Northeast Computer Crime Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at the home.
According to the complaint, no one was inside when investigators entered.
Authorities said the interior was in what investigators described as “deplorable condition” and appeared to be a hoarding situation. The complaint alleges animal waste was present in parts of the home and investigators found a dead cat in an upstairs bedroom.
Because of conditions inside, investigators temporarily left the residence and later returned wearing protective equipment to continue searching for electronic evidence.
Detectives seized two Acer Chromebook laptops, according to the complaint. Scranton Code Enforcement, the Area Agency on Aging and Animal Control were also contacted, and a city code enforcement officer subsequently condemned the residence.
Police: McHale admitted using reported accounts
Investigators later spoke with McHale during a recorded interview at the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the affidavit, McHale was advised of his rights and agreed to speak with detectives.
Police allege McHale admitted creating and using the accounts identified in the CyberTipline reports and acknowledged possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
The complaint further alleges McHale told investigators he had been using his grandmother’s cellphone because he did not have his own phone. Investigators subsequently obtained that device for further examination.
McHale was transported to the Lackawanna County Criminal Justice Center.
The District Attorney’s Office said multiple electronic devices were seized and additional forensic examinations are planned as the investigation continues.
The investigation involved the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, Northeast Computer Crime Unit and Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The District Attorney’s Office also credited Homeland Security Investigations with assisting in the case.
All charges are allegations. McHale is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.