Retired Police Officer Indicted on Child Pornography Charges

The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today the indictment of Blaine R. Handerhan for possession and distribution of child pornography over the Internet. Handerhan, 55, of Jonestown, was charged in two separate counts in the indictment handed up by the grand jury sitting in Harrisburg.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Handerhan is charged with possession of child pornography and with distributing child pornography over the Internet. The charges stem from an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Handerhan is a retired Mount Carmel Borough police officer. The possession offense carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. The distribution offense carries a mandatory minimum five-year jail sentence and a maximum jail sentence of 20 years along with a maximum fine of $250,000.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy.