A Mifflin County man, Todd Shirk, is facing 485 charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after a thorough investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police. The 54-year-old from Milroy was identified as the owner of a computer sharing explicit images of children online. The investigation began in December 2023 when undercover investigators discovered a computer distributing CSAM. By tracing internet records, authorities linked the activity to Shirk's name and address.
In April 2024, police searched Shirk's home on South Main Street, where they seized electronics, including a PC, motherboard, and drives. According to the criminal complaint, hundreds of files depicting CSAM were found on these devices. Investigators also noted that Shirk attempted to clear some of his devices before the search.
Shirk faces 234 felony counts of sexual abuse of children for possessing CSAM, 10 felony counts for disseminating photos or films of child sex acts, and one felony count for the criminal use of a communication facility. Additionally, he faces 230 misdemeanor counts for designing or copying obscene material depicting a minor and 10 misdemeanor counts for producing or presenting obscene performances.
According to ABC27, Shirk was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Kent Smith and is currently held in Mifflin County Prison with bail set at $100,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday (November 19).