An Allegheny Township man is facing nearly 450 felony charges relating to distribution and possession of child pornography.
According to Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law offender database, Jesse Lee Roberts, 38, has been registered as a tier-three sex offender since 2018.
Allegheny Township police received a tip in January that Roberts was distributing child sexual abuse material, according to a criminal complaint filed against him. Roberts was using messaging apps Zangi and Telegram to share photos of child pornography, the complaint said.
During their investigation, police confiscated two cellphones from Roberts which held 136 photographs and 87 videos of child sex abuse material, according to the complaint. Of the 223 images, photos and videos, 85 depicted children younger than 13, police said. Some were as young as infants and toddlers, according to the complaint.
Police said Roberts admitted to sharing sexual material of himself as well.
From the material confiscated from Roberts, police submitted 225 hash values, unique digital fingerprints, to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There were nine identified children, 27 recognized hash values and 189 unrecognized values.
According to court documents, Roberts previously pleaded guilty to indecent assault of a person under the age of 13 in 2018.
In addition to the child pornography charges, Roberts was also charged for failing to verify his address, a measure required from registered Megan’s Law offenders. Roberts is being held in Westmoreland County jail without bail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 17 before District Judge Cheryl J. Peck Yakopec.
