Authorities charged a Scranton man with 5,000 felony counts involving possession of over 150,000 files of child sexual abuse material, including 200 in a digital picture frame next to his bed.
Paul Sybrandy, 44, of 514 Cedar Ave., Apt. 9, was arrested after detectives from the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and an investigation determined he had uploaded files of child sexual abuse material, DA Brian J. Gallagher announced Thursday.
County detectives and officers with the Pennsylvania State Police Northeast Computer Crimes Task Force executing a search warrant on Wednesday at Sybrandy’s residence recovered more than 150,000 files of child sexual abuse material from his devices, according to Gallagher.
Along with a photo album containing printed pictures of child sexual abuse material, Sybrandy possessed a digital photo frame in his bedroom where over 200 images continuously scrolled on that device, the district attorney said.
“The sheer volume of child pornography discovered in this case — over 150,000 images — is horrific. Let me be absolutely clear: if you are involved in child pornography — if you are producing it, sharing it or possessing it — you are not just a criminal, you are a monster. You are fueling the ongoing torture, exploitation and sexual abuse of children. And we are coming for you with everything we’ve got,” Gallagher said in a statement. “We will tear apart your devices. We will trace your digital footprint. We will expose you, arrest you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are deploying every resource — local, state, and federal — to ensure that those who prey on children are taken off our streets for good. There will be no leniency and no second chances.”
Gallagher said he charged Sybrandy with 5,000 felony counts of possession of child pornography and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility and dissemination of child pornography.
According to a criminal complaint:
The offenses occurred from about Feb. 15 to July 15.
Officers responding to the apartment found the door ajar and saw Sybrandy lying on an air mattress in the middle of the room. They announced their purpose of executing a search warrant and read Sybrandy his Miranda rights, but he said he wanted to consult with an attorney before speaking with them. While searching his bedroom, the officers found next to his air mattress and under a Bible a photo album titled “Paul’s Love Obsession” that contained images of child sexual abuse.
Police said further forensic analysis will be conducted on his seized devices.
Sybrandy remains at the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail, and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 30.