A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for later this month for the Smethport man facing more than 50 counts relating to child pornography.
Chad M. Caldwell, 26, of 3596 Route 46, will face a hearing at 1 p.m. Jan. 27 before District Judge Bill Todd.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 20, state police were contacted by Internet Crimes Against Children about CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. On Feb. 3, images of child pornography were either uploaded, downloaded, received and/or transmitted from an IP address that was later connected to Caldwell’s address, according to the criminal complaint.
Police searched the home, and Caldwell admitted he possessed and disseminated child pornography. He provided the passcode to his cell phone to police. In the search of his phone, police found 673 images and videos on the phone that showed prepubescent boys and girls in sexual positions, according to the complaint.
Caldwell remains jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail. He is charged with 50 counts of child pornography, second-degree felonies; and one count each of dissemination of photos/film of child sex acts and criminal use of a communication facility, third-degree felonies.
He is represented by the McKean County Public Defender’s office.
Caldwell’s case had been scheduled at Central Court on Thursday.
Also in Central Court, Perry Benjamin Green, 32, of Coudersport, waived a hearing on allegations involving corruption of minors, while co-defendant Leola Davis, 32, of Leechburg, chose to have a preliminary hearing on the allegations against her.
The hearing for Davis is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 10 before District Judge Dom Cercone.
According to criminal complaints against the couple, on multiple dates between June 1 and July 17, in Port Allegany and in Annin Township, Green and Davis engaged in sexual intercourse with each other in front of two children, ages 13 and 14.
During that time frame, Green allegedly instructed the children how to perform sex acts on each other, touched the children inappropriately and allowed the children to consume alcohol. Davis allegedly permitted these acts to take place, the criminal complaints alleged.
At Central Court, Davis’ bail was lowered from $100,000 to 10% of $25,000. She was still incarcerated as of Thursday evening.
Green remains incarcerated in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Davis is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children, third-degree felonies; two counts of directing an obscene performance, four counts of indecent exposure, four counts of endangering the welfare of children, and four counts of corruption of minors, all first-degree misdemeanors; four counts of indecent exposure, second-degree misdemeanors; two counts of open lewdness and two counts of furnishing alcohol to minors, third-degree misdemeanors.
Green is charged with two counts of corruption of minors, third-degree felonies; two counts of directing an obscene performance, four counts of indecent exposure and four counts of corruption of minors, all first-degree misdemeanors; two counts of indecent assault without consent and four counts of indecent exposure, second-degree misdemeanors; two counts of open lewdness and two counts of furnishing alcohol to minors, third-degree misdemeanors.
