Philly Man Traded Child Porn Of Infants In Secret Online Groups: Police

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Philadelphia man was found with hundreds of images and videos of children, some of them infants and toddlers, being sexual abused, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office announced.

John S. Stachecki, 55, of Center City, faces more than 200 felony charges.

Stachecki was a member of dozens of online groups, accessible only by an encrypted key, that traded the images, officials said. He used these groups both to share and to obtain new images and videos, according to police.

Authorities described Stachecki's "deviant fixation on young children."

“We cannot overstate the depths of depravity that exist online, as evidenced by this investigation that uncovered an invitation-only network used to share and view child sexual abuse material,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said.

Police discovered Stachecki's cache after serving a warrant at his home in the 1900 block of Chestnut Street.

“The heartbreaking evidence unearthed in this case stands as a stark reminder that children, no matter where they live, are vulnerable," said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia, Edward V. Owens. "No child should ever have to endure the horrific exploitation revealed by this investigation."

Bail for Stachecki was set at $1 million, which he did not post.