Plymouth Meeting Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Yesterday, the Montgomery County District Attorney announced the arrest of Brian K. Hyson of Plymouth Meeting on child pornography charges. Below is the press release:

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (May 2, 2017) — Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Abington Township Police Chief John Livingood and the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announce the arrest of Brian K. Hyson, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, for more than 100 felony charges of Dissemination of Child Pornography, Sexual Abuse of Children/Child Pornography and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.

On Sept. 29, 2016, Abington Township Detective Rick Beaghley was conducting an undercover, electronic communications operation on the Internet. The investigation located a computer that was specifically configured to anonymously share files with others. When Detective Beaghley directly connected to this computer, he electronically received two sexually explicit video files.

He was again able to connect to the computer on Feb. 11, 2017 and received nine video files. Upon review, the files were determined to depict children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual acts and/or sexually explicit poses. The investigation traced the computer to a residence where the defendant was living. Detectives executed a search warrant and seized Hyson’s computer and cellphones. Forensic examination of the computer and cellphones found more than 3,200 sexually explicit images and 165 videos of child pornography.

Hyson was arrested on March 1, 2017 for a parole violation and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. He was arraigned on the current charges before Magisterial District Judge Francis J. Bernhardt II, who set bail at $200,000 cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m., May 11, 2017 before Judge Bernhardt. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Price.

Major Crimes Detectives of the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, along with specially trained and sworn detectives from police departments in Montgomery County, routinely work with the ICAC Task Force to protect children from Internet predators by aggressively and proactively investigating Internet crimes that exploit children.

We will update this story as it progresses.

Photo: Montgomery County DA’s Office