Eric Swenson, 50, of the 100 block of Susquehanna Avenue.
The ongoing investigation into 50-year-old Eric Swenson, of Lansdale, has uncovered more than 6,300 images of child pornography, according court documents filed last week.
Swenson, of the 100-block of Susquehanna Avenue, has been charged with an additional 100 felony counts of possession of child pornography, 100 felony counts of dissemination of photo/film of child sex acts, 100 felony counts of criminal use of a communication facility and 11 felony counts of sexual abuse of children, in connection with the investigation.
Swenson was originally arrested on March 28, and charged with 35 counts of possession of child pornography and 35 counts of criminal use of a communication facility, following an investigation that began after concerned parents at Mater Dei Catholic School contacted police regarding Swenson allegedly filming girls at cheerleading practice. Swenson, whose daughter goes to the school, initially told police that he was only recording the practices to help his daughter with her cheerleading moves, but upon further questioning, he was found to have child pornography on his phone, according to the original criminal complaint.
Click here to read about the original investigation
After Swenson was taken into custody, police returned to his home to serve a search warrant. Police, who had already taken Swenson’s phone into evidence, also retrieved two computer towers from his apartment, which was later vacated due to “unsanitary conditions and imminent danger.” [Read more about the apartment here]
On April 1, Swenson’s phone was forensically downloaded, and investigators uncovered 371 additional photos of child pornography, according to the complaint. The following day, both computer towers were submitted to the Philadelphia Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory for analysis, which uncovered more than 6,000 known images of child pornography, as confirmed by the FBI database of child pornography images, the report states.
The complaint also notes that several peer-to-peer networking programs were discovered on Swenson’s computers, which he allegedly used to acquire and distribute child pornography, according to the complaint.
Swenson, who was already remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post $100,000 cash bail on the original charges, was arraigned on the new charges on May 2 by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who set additional bail at $400,000 cash. Swenson then waived his preliminary hearing, which means that his next scheduled court appearance is a formal arraignment at the Montgomery County Courthouse on June 19 at 9:30 a.m.
(Editor's note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)
See also:
Lansdale Man Arrested On Dozens Of Child Pornography Charges
Home Of Child Porn Suspect Vacated For Unsanitary Conditions, Deemed Imminent Danger
Woman Arrested On Drug Charges During Traffic Stop In Montgomery Township
Firefighter Charged With Arson, Insurance Fraud After Burning Down Home: DA
Woman Arrested After Scamming Victim On Facebook Marketplace: Police
