Upper St. Clair man charged with 15 counts of viewing child pornography
Investigators from the state Attorney General’s office and Upper St. Clair police arrested Thomas James Ketchum, 46, of 90 Long Drive, Upper St. Clair, Feb. 18 on 15 counts of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.
The Attorney General’s office conducted an online investigation into the distribution of child pornography and said an IP address led them to Ketchum.
Upper St. Clair assisted state investigators with arresting Ketchum at his home.
A search of Ketchum’s electronic devices at his home was conducted and numerous apparent child pronography media files were found on all of his devices, according to the Attorney General’s office.
Ketchum had more than a dozen videos of children, from ages 5 to 12, on his computer, according to reports. He told state and township officials that he has had a child pornography issue for years.
Ketchum was taken to the Allegheny County Jail and later released on an unsecured bond. He faces a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. March 2 before District Judge Ron Arnoni in Bethel Park. Ketchum will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Anthony Marmo of the Child Predator Section.