Probation For Montco Man Charged With Photographing Teenage Girl

NORRISTOWN, PA — A Montgomery County man has received a year of probation after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment in connection with incidents in which he secretly photographed a teenage girl and used the images for his own sexual gratification, according to court records and media reports.

Stephen Steinbrook, 50, of the Erdenheim section of Springfield Township, was sentenced on Monday to a year of court supervision during a proceeding before Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Wendy Rothstein.

Court records show that in addition to probation, the judge ordered Steinbrook to have no contact with the victim and to continue with his sex offender treatment.

Steinbrook was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minor children other than his own.

Rothstein also ordered that Steinbrook's smartphone be monitored by probation officers and be subject to random checks.

A report in the Mercury newspaper states that Steinbrook had admitted to taking photos and videos of the 15-year-old girl — he was acquainted with the victim's family — and that he subsequently masturbated to the photos and videos.

The incidents occurred at a local swimming pool in July 2021, according to the report.

The report stated that the victim spoke about the trauma she endured because of the defendant's actions during a statement she read in open court at the time of sentencing on Monday.

Steinbrook reportedly apologized for his actions during the same proceeding.

Investigators had reportedly received an anonymous tip that led them to Steinbrook.

Court records show that prosecutors had initially charged Steinbrook with a misdemeanor count of invasion of privacy, but that the charge was later changed to harassment.

Other criminal charges were dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea, according to the docket sheet in the case.

The Mercury reported that the judge also ordered Steinbrook to pay restitution in the amount of $2,274 to cover the cost of the victim's psychological counseling.