A 30-year-old Lansdale man is facing felony charges after Buckingham Township police investigated Snapchat messages and images involving two 10-year-old girls, according to a report citing the police affidavit.
Jacob Kern was arrested Sept. 24 and charged with photographing, videotaping or filming sexual acts involving a child, possessing child sexual abuse material and criminal use of a communication facility. He is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 bail.
The investigation began in March after police reviewed a Snapchat conversation from January involving Kern and a 10-year-old girl. Investigators reviewed six files containing images and audio messages exchanged between the two, the affidavit reportedly states.
Police said Kern asked the girl’s age and told her she looked younger than 12. Investigators confirmed she was 10 after speaking with her mother. According to the affidavit, the girl had blocked one of Kern’s Snapchat accounts before he allegedly contacted her again through a second account using a different first name. Police also allege he sent her explicit images.
Investigators obtained IP address information linked to a relative’s home in Buckingham Township and used it, along with email information, to access Kern’s Snapchat account, according to the report. Police said the account contained photos and videos of child sexual abuse material. Investigators also allege Kern sent videos of himself masturbating to a second 10-year-old girl in Texas.
Police later determined Kern lived in Lansdale. He was arraigned Sept. 24 before Magisterial District Judge Timothy J. Barton. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8 at 1:45 p.m.
The charges are allegations. Kern is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
