Boy Scouts volunteer arrested in Shaler on child pornography charges

SHALER, Pa. — A 41-year-old Shaler man who volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America was arrested Tuesday on child pornography charges, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office said.

Christopher Sokiera’s arrest came after the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force received information from the website Imgur that possible pornographic images were being uploaded to a computer at Sokiera’s home. An investigation was launched and an arrest warrant was executed Tuesday morning.

“I saw a SWAT team when I was taking my son to school,” Winnie Kuna, a neighbor, said. “I just moved in. I want to be in a safe neighborhood with my kids.”

The district attorney’s office said the images were determined to be child pornography and Sokiera was taken into police custody. Investigators said more than 90 pornographic images of children, the youngest being a toddler, were found.

According to a criminal complaint, Sokiera told FBI agents that “it could possibly be years he's been viewing child pornography.”

Channel 11's Damany Lewis learned that Sokiera is a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America's Order of the Arrow and is also a chapter adviser.

Investigators said Sokiera told them that he recently attended an overnight camping trip with adults and children, and had another one planned for this weekend. He said he has never inappropriately touched children.

Cox Media Group