Police: Butler County man charged with child porn took photos of girls in bathroom

State police say a Jefferson Township man admitted taking photos of two underage girls while they were in a bathroom and had dozens of images of child pornography on his cellphone.

Joshua Michael Pethtel, 33, allegedly told troopers he would take photos of the girls from an outside window, knowing they would potentially be nude, according to a criminal complaint filed last Thursday.

Troopers said they were first notified of the incidents in March, when they received a ChildLine report involving Pethtel. The investigation into that report revealed Pethtel had been accused of inappropriately touching an underage girl, which he denied, according to the complaint.

Troopers said they were notified of a second ChildLine report involving Pethtel in April, when a Butler County Child & Youth Services caseworker called them to report it.

A witness interviewed in May told troopers one of the girls informed her that on more than one occasion, she had seen someone holding a cellphone up to the bathroom window while she was in the bathroom.

The witness told troopers Pethtel had a cellphone that matched the girl’s description. Upon questioning, Pethtel allegedly admitted he was interested in child pornography and that he took photos of the two girls from a bathroom window for gratification.

Troopers requested a search warrant for Pethtel’s cellphone, which was approved by District Judge Sue Haggerty. On the cellphone, investigators found more than 50 images of underage children engaged in sexual acts, according to the complaint.

Also on the cellphone was an image of a hand pulling down the back side of someone’s pants to display their underwear, the complaint said. Visible tattoos on the hand matched tattoos that belonged to Pethtel, the complaint said.

Pethtel remained in the Butler County jail on Monday after failing to post $10,000 bond, according to online court records.

He faces 58 counts of child pornography and one count of possessing an instrument of crime. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26. Online court records do not list an attorney for him.