Professor Tarnai Gets 15 Years for Child Porn

PITTSBURGH, PA – Balazs Tarnai, 36, formerly of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, will spend the next 15 years behind bars after being sentenced today for the horrific crime of producing child pornography. Tarnai, a former professor of Special Education at Seton Hill University, pleaded guilty to one count of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone, includes a lifetime of supervised release following his 180-month imprisonment.

The case, spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar, unveiled a disturbing reality hidden behind the facade of an academic. According to court documents, on March 30, 2011, Tarnai knowingly received illegal images and videos via computer and the U.S. Mail. A consented search of his residence revealed a trove of depraved material – depictions of prepubescent boys being sexually exploited, along with homemade videos and images filmed within his own home. The details are as sickening as they are reprehensible.

Tarnai, a PhD graduate of Penn State University, abused his position of trust and intellect to facilitate this monstrous behavior. The investigation, which began with a tip and blossomed into a coordinated effort, exposed a predator operating in plain sight. Sources close to the investigation tell Grimy Times that the volume of material seized was substantial, and the images depicted prolonged and calculated exploitation.

U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton praised the collaborative work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Greensburg Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSI) – Pittsburgh, highlighting their dedication to bringing predators like Tarnai to justice. “This case demonstrates the importance of relentless investigation and prosecution of those who prey on the most vulnerable,” Hickton stated in a press release.

The prosecution of Tarnai falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. The project aims to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse by pooling federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, and crucially, to rescue victims. The program acknowledges that fighting this type of crime requires a unified front.

This case serves as a stark reminder that predators can come from any walk of life. For those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood and resources for combating child exploitation, visit www.justice.gov/psc. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar instances of depravity as they come to light. The sentence, while significant, can’t undo the harm inflicted, but it does offer a measure of justice and hopefully prevents further victimization.