Child porn case moves to court
SAXONBURG — A Penn Township man on Wednesday waived a preliminary hearing on charges of possessing and disseminating child pornography.
The state Attorney General's Office last week arrested 26-year-old Zachary S. Burnside following an online investigation that began Sept. 19.
During the investigation agents discovered two explicit video files that were being shared by an Internet Protocol address, authorities said. Investigators subsequently tracked the host computer to Burnside's home.
That allowed agents to obtain a search warrant for the house. In Burnside's bedroom, according to court documents, authorities found a cell phone that contained more than 50 files of apparent child porn.
At least some of the files depicted children participating in sex acts or poses.
Agents confronted Burnside, who admitted that he knew the illicit images were on the phone. He also stated, documents said, that “he did not want to be listed as a sex offender.”
He waived his right to have an attorney present while being interviewed by investigators.
Burnside acknowledged that he has “engaged in looking at children pornography off and on for over the past 13 years,” according to an affidavit of probable cause.
He also confessed to knowing how to use computer applications to download and share files.
He is charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, 12 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Burnside was arraigned on the charges, all felonies, and placed in the Butler County prison on $50,000 bail.
After waiving his hearing before District Judge Sue Haggerty in Saxonburg, Burnside's attorney, public defender Ryan Helsel, asked that his client be given unsecured bail.
While he conceded the charges are “very horrible-sounding,” Helsel noted there are no allegations that Burnside touched or tried to have contact with any children.
Additionally, he said Burnside has no previous criminal record, works for a senior living facility in southern Butler County and has “substantial ties” to the community.
Burnside told Haggerty that he lives with his grandmother, brother and cousin.
Deputy Attorney General Jessel Costa advised the judge that he would not oppose the bail reduction.
Haggerty agreed to set Burnside's new bail at $50,000 unsecured, meaning that as long as he showed up to his hearings and did not commit any crimes, he could stay out of prison.
His next court date is his Dec. 5 formal arraignment.
Helsel and Costa declined further comment after the proceedings.
