HARRISBURG — Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane Friday the arrest of eight men on charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography.
The arrests are a result of agents in the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section conducting a continuous online Internet investigation to identify those possessing and sharing child pornography using peer-to-peer file sharing networks.
The latest arrests occurred in Allegheny, Blair, Bucks, Butler and Cambria counties.
Below is the list of the defendants:
Nicholas D. Lancos, 32, 948 Greenfield Ave., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.
Douglas Edward Conway, 48, 105 27th Ave., Altoona, Blair County.
Michael A. Martin, 61, 322 N. Negley Ave., Apt. 10, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.
Benjamin A. Hodgson, 26, 415 Church St., Gallitzin, Cambria County.
Boris Gevorkov, 41, 166 Whitney Lane, Richboro, Bucks County.
John C. Woods, 54, 1212 Oriole Drive, Bensalem, Bucks County.
Kensil Bowman Jr., 47, 3114 Oak Ave., Altoona, Blair County.
Mitchell L. Vlassich, 38, 138 Jefferson St., Apt. 11, Butler County.
Lancos charges
According to the criminal complaint, on June 17 agents from the Office of Attorney General and officers with the City of Pittsburgh Police Department executed a search warrant at Lancos’ residence. Agents seized a computer and other electronic devices.
A preliminary review of the seized items by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit resulted in the discovery of numerous files of suspected child pornography.
Lancos was charged with four counts of distributing child pornography, 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Attorney General Kane thanked the City of Pittsburgh Police Department and the Kennywood Police Department for their assistance with Lancos’ arrest.
The preliminary arraignment was held June 18, at which time bail was set at non-monetary. The defendant was released after processing. The preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 30.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Anthony Marmo of the Child Predator Section.
Conway charges
According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 7, 2013, agents from the Office of Attorney General and officers with the Altoona Police Department executed a search warrant at Conway’s residence. A laptop computer was examined on scene by a computer forensics agent and it was deemed that a complete analysis would need to be completed. The laptop was seized from the residence.
The analysis was performed and numerous apparent child pornography files were found.
Conway was arrested June 18, 2015.
Conway was charged with 25 counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of disseminating child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
The preliminary arraignment was held June 18, at which time bail was set at $150,000. The defendant was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Blair County Prison. The preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 24.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Altoona Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Child Predator Section.
Martin charges
According to the criminal complaint, on June 17 agents from the Office of Attorney General and officers with the City of Pittsburgh Police Department executed a search warrant at Martin’s home. A laptop computer was examined on scene by a computer forensics agent. The hard drive in the computer was found to contain numerous apparent child pornography files.
Martin was charged with eight counts of distributing child pornography, 15 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Attorney General Kane thanked the City of Pittsburgh Police Department for its assistance with Martin’s arrest.
Bail was set at $30,000 at a preliminary arraignment June 17. Martin was remanded to the Allegheny County Jail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 1.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Anthony Marmo of the Child Predator Section.
Hodgson charges
According to the criminal complaint, on June 18 agents from the Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police and Gallitzin Police Department executed a search warrant at Hodgson’s residence. A laptop computer was examined on scene by a computer forensics agent. The hard drive in the computer was found to contain numerous apparent child pornography files.
Hodgson was charged with three counts of distributing child pornography, 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Pennsylvania State Police and Gallitzin Police Department for their assistance with Hodgson’s arrest.
The preliminary arraignment was held on June 18, at which time bail was set at $50,000 unsecured. The preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 14.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Anthony Marmo of the Child Predator Section.
Gevorkov charges
According to the criminal complaint, on June 15 agents from the Office of Attorney General and officers from the Northampton Police Department executed a search warrant at Gevorkov’s residence. A laptop computer and several other media devices were found and examined on scene by a computer forensics agent. The search found the devices to contain numerous apparent child pornography files.
Gevorkov has been charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.
The preliminary arraignment was held June 15, at which time bail was set at $100,000. The defendant was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Bucks County Prison. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 16.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Northampton Police Department for its assistance with Gevorkov’s arrest.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Child Predator Section.
Woods charges
According to the criminal complaint, on June 16 agents from the Office of Attorney General and officers from the Bensalem Police Department executed a search warrant at Woods’ residence. During the search, a computer and several other items were ined by agents of the Office of Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit. Agents found numerous apparent child pornography files.
Woods has been charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.
The preliminary arraignment was held on June 16, at which time bail was set at $250,000. The defendant was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Bucks County Prison. The preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 30.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Bensalem Police Department for its assistance with Woods’ arrest.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Child Predator Section.
Bowman charges
According to the criminal complaint, on June 18 agents from the Office of Attorney General, with assistance from the Altoona Police Department, executed a search warrant at Bowman’s residence. Two desktop computers were found within the residence along with various other electronic media devices. The computers and other devices were examined by agents with the Office of Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit. Agents found numerous apparent child pornography files.
Bowman has been charged with five counts of disseminating child pornography, 11 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
The preliminary arraignment was held on June 18, at which time bail was set at $150,000. The defendant was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Blair County Prison. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 24.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Altoona Police Department for its assistance with Bowman’s arrest.
The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Child Predator Section.
Vllassich charges
According to the criminal complaint, on June 16 agents from the Office of Attorney General and officers with the Butler City Police Department executed a search warrant at Vlassich’s residence. Agents recovered multiple devices, including an eMachine desktop computer and Acer laptop. The computers were examined by agents of the Office of Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit. The agents found numerous apparent child pornography files.
Vlassich has been charged with three counts of disseminating child pornography, 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Butler City Police Department for its assistance with Vlassich’s arrest.
The preliminary arraignment was held on June 16, at which time bail was set at $75,000. The defendant was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Butler County Prison. The preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 22.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Anthony Marmo of the Child Predator Section.
Reporting Child Predators
Suspected child predators can be reported to the Office of Attorney General by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. Individuals who suspect an online predator or child sexual abuse can also send an anonymous tip to the office by texting PAKIDS + YOUR TIP to 847411.