Montco man arrested on child porn charges

Police arrested a man in Montgomery County they say had more than 1,500 images and videos of child pornography.

Pablo Rodriguez, 20, of Hatboro, was arrested Monday and charged with 277 counts of possessing and disseminating child pornography and related charges.

On Sept. 8, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security turned over to the Hatboro Township Police Department a computer, flash drives and other digital media it had taken from Rodriguez through a search warrant in 2014, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

Rodriguez was an 18-year-old student at Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School at the time of the search. He lived in the basement of his grandparents' home, police said.

Videos and pictures showed boys and girls displaying their genitals, engaging in sexual activity and being sexually abused, police said. The children ranged in age from infant to early teens.

Rodriguez also hid a video camera or cell phone in a bathroom or dressing room and secretly recorded a 12-year-old girl changing out of a bathing suit and dressing after a shower, police said.

Police also said Rodriguez exchanged child pornography with other people using several email accounts.

Bail for Rodriguez was set at $100,000 with the condition that he not have contact with anyone under 18 years old and no internet access.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Paul N. Leo.

- Michaelle Bond