The Berks County District Attorney’s Office, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, identified and charged 28-year-old Harley L. Haage of Douglassville with unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse of children – possession of child pornography, and related charges, after an investigation involving an inappropriate ‘online’ relationship between the defendant and a sixteen year old girl.
As part of the investigation, investigators served administrative subpoenas and discovered that the victim in this case was residing in Florida.
With the assistance of the Hernando County (FL) Sheriff’s Department, investigators determined that the victim was engaging in sexually explicit electronic communication with the defendant and that the two were also exchanging nude images of one another. Two mobile phones utilized by the victim were forensically examined by the Sheriff’s Department and nude digital videos and images of both the defendant and the victim were recovered. It was also discovered that communication between the two included conversations regarding the victim being sixteen years of age.
Based on the information obtained from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Department, members of the Berks County Detectives served a search warrant at the defendant’s residence located in Amity Township, Berks County (PA). A mobile telephone was seized during this search.
The defendant was interviewed by members of the Berks County Detectives and admitted to exchanging nude images and videos with the victim. The defendant also acknowledged that she was aware that the victim was only sixteen years of age.
As a result of a forensic analysis conducted on the defendant’s mobile telephone by the Berks County District Attorney’s Forensic Services Unit, numerous nude images and videos of the victim were recovered.
On Wednesday, detectives obtained a warrant of arrest for the defendant which was issued by Magisterial District Judge Steven M. Chieffo. The Defendant was taken into custody at her residence and transported to the Central Processing Center located at the Berks County Sheriff’s Office, where she was arraigned bail was set at $150,000. She was committed to Berks County Jail after being unable to post bail.
The defendant was charged with the following: Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Sexual Abuse of Children – Possession of Child Pornography, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility (3 counts), Corruption of Minors.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest occurred or a criminal complaint has been filed is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
