An Earl Township man was arrested last week after a search warrant yielded more than 600,000 child pornography computer files.
Brian Perri, 57, of the 100 block of Laurel Road, has been charged after authorities found him to be in possession of thousands of child pornography images, according to court documents.
An investigation by Lower Heidelberg Township Police into the sharing of child pornography online began in December 2014. Through the investigation police found a file containing several images of a 10-year-old girl in various stages of undress. Police then obtained the Internet provider through a search of the IP address and on Jan. 5 were notified by the provider concerning the name of the subscriber, police said.
On April 14, members of the Berks County Criminal Investigations Unit and Pennsylvania State Police served a search warrant at the home of Brian Perri on Laurel Road. Upon arrival, Perri identified the second floor office and computer room area as his office, containing his work and personal computers. Perri then admitted to police that he used the file sharing network to share child pornography, according to court documents.
After police seized several computers and components, authorities performed computer forensic examinations for further evidence of child pornography. Police recovered more than 500,000 child pornography files including more than 100,000 digital videos. The children ranged in age from infancy to 8 years old.
Other computers and related devices seized from Perri are in the process of being searched for additional evidence, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
Perri is being charged with several counts of disseminating child pornography as well as several counts of possession of child pornography.
He was arraigned on April 17 before District Judge Paul J. Hadzick and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 29 before District Judge Michael G. Hartman. Bail was set at $50,000.