HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jonathan Lee Debus, age 42, of Dover, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with possession and receipt of child pornography.
According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment charges Debus with receipt and possession of child pornography involving a minor under 12 years of age, between October 1, 2021 and May 12, 2022, in York County. The indictment alleges that the conduct occurred subsequent to Debus’ Pennsylvania state conviction in the York County Court of Common Pleas for unlawful contact with minors and statutory sexual assault.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Ford is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The maximum penalty for these offenses is up to 60 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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