71-Yr-Old Ben Avon Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Charles Appel, a 71-year-old resident of Ben Avon, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of receiving material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The grim revelation comes from United States Attorney David J. Hickton, who announced the plea today.

Appel’s transgression involved obtaining a video titled “Boy Fights XIX: Triple Threat (2009)” from Canadian production company Azov. He ordered and received this video on February 21, 2011, in both electronic and DVD formats for $29.95. Between May 15, 2009, and March 13, 2011, Appel procured videos from Azov on 29 separate occasions, spending a total of $1,864.54.

The court was informed that the material received by Appel depicted the sexual exploitation of minor boys. This disturbing behavior led to his arraignment before Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti, who scheduled sentencing for March 28, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. The law mandates a potential sentence ranging from 5 to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000.00, or both.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will depend on the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, Appel’s bond was continued with the additional condition that he register as a sex offender.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch. The investigation leading to Appel’s prosecution was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

As this gritty crime unfolds, the grim reality of child exploitation remains a top priority for law enforcement agencies across the nation.