Bucks County Man Charged in Child Porn Case

Brian High, 45, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is facing federal charges in a child pornography case that spans years of alleged criminal activity. Indicted by a federal grand jury, High is accused of receiving illicit material on April 8, 2013, August 10, 2015, and September 29, 2016, followed by possession of child pornography on October 27, 2016. The charges, announced by United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen, signal a long-running investigation into digital exploitation.

The indictment paints a grim picture of predation enabled through online access. Federal prosecutors allege High not only received but retained images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Each count of receipt carries a potential 20-year sentence, stacking up to a maximum of 80 years behind bars. The possession charge adds further exposure, with no room for leniency under federal sentencing mandates.

If convicted, High faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison, with supervised release lasting at least five years—and potentially for the rest of his life. The court could also impose a $1,000,000 fine, mandatory restitution to victims, and a $400 special assessment. Should the court determine High is not indigent, he will face an additional $15,000 special assessment, bringing the total to $15,400.

This case was pursued under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to dismantle networks of child sexual exploitation. Spearheaded by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), the program integrates federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify offenders, rescue victims, and secure convictions in an era of digital anonymity.

Investigation into High’s activities was conducted jointly by the New Britain Township Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Their collaboration underscores the layered response required to confront cyber-facilitated child abuse. Digital forensics, IP tracing, and cross-jurisdictional coordination were likely pivotal in building the evidence trail leading to indictment.

Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Driscoll is prosecuting the case, representing the government’s aggressive stance on child exploitation crimes. As the legal process unfolds, the case against Brian High serves as a stark reminder: federal authorities are watching, tracking, and charging those who access and hoard child pornography—no matter how deeply they believe they’re hidden online.

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