A Penns Valley man is facing child pornography charges after an investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Lucas D. Garber, 26, of Gregg Township, is accused of possessing more than 30 images of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint filed on Thursday.
The investigation began in August 2021 when a special investigator from the OAG’s Child Predator Section received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a user of the messaging app Kik had uploaded four files of child pornography. Three of the four files depicted children under the age of 18 “engaged in indecent contact,” according to the complaint.
Investigators found through subpoenas to internet service providers and Google that the email and IP addresses associated with the Kik user were linked to Garber.
State police and special agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security executed a search warrant on Thursday morning at Garber’s home. Investigators wrote that at least 33 images of child pornography were found on Garber’s phone, including 32 that “either depict children engaged in indecent contact or depict prepubescent minors.”
Garber allegedly told investigators that he shared and downloaded pornographic images from a Kik group, but did not recall viewing or sharing any child pornography. According to the complaint, he acknowledged that the email address associated with the Kik account under investigation is his.
Investigators wrote that Garber downloaded child pornography as recently as July.
Garber is charged with 33 felony counts of child pornography and one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility.
He was arraigned on Thursday afternoon by District Judge Gregory Koehle and was unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 7.
He was the second Centre County man arrested on child pornography charges this week. On Tuesday, a Ferguson Township man was accused of uploading seven child pornography files to Kik in January and February of 2021.
