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New York City probation official from Bethlehem Township indicted on child pornography charges

Morning Call - 2/12/2021

A New York City probation official arrested after Bethlehem Township police found child pornography on his work-issued smartphone has been indicted in federal court.

Robert Costello, 53, of the 3200 block of Highfield Drive was arrested and charged Oct. 15 in Northampton County Court with 75 counts related to the possession of images depicting the sexual abuse of children.

A federal grand jury in Philadelphia indicted Costello in U.S. District Court on five counts including receiving, accessing with intent to view and possessing child pornography. Costello appeared Friday in U.S. District Court in Allentown and was held pending a detention hearing scheduled Feb. 17. Costello has been in Northampton County Prison since his arrest, court documents show.

“The defendant allegedly possessed and viewed visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. “He is charged with doing this while employed as an assistant commissioner with the City of New York, a position of public trust paid by taxpayer dollars. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in all jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute child sexual exploitation offenses.”

Federal public defender Maranna Meehan who represents Costello did not comment.

According to court documents filed in Northampton County Court, the Department of Homeland Security in Philadelphia received a tip in September regarding an individual chatting about the abuse of children on a messaging app. The messages were traced to an internet address associated with Costello’s home.

A Bethlehem Township police officer and a Homeland Security special agent interviewed Costello at his home on Oct. 15 and he acknowledged his activity on the messaging app. Costello provided consent to search his electronic devices and about 25 images depicting the sexual abuse of children were found on his work-issued phone, according to an affidavit.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis A. Weber and Kelly Harrell and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

Morning Call reporter Peter Hall can be reached at 610-820-6581 or peter.hall@mcall.com.

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