According to 6abc.com, Chester police officer Leon Paparo is charged with more than 100 counts related to alleged child sexual abuse material, unlawful use of a computer and invasion of privacy. Authorities said a random April 2026 audit of JNET, the Pennsylvania Justice Network, flagged numerous searches allegedly unrelated to any criminal investigation, including searches of ex-girlfriends, young girls and women who worked at city and county offices. Investigators said a search warrant on his phone turned up passcode-protected folders of sexual images of women, including images of a 16-year-old girl. The Delaware County District Attorney's Office led the investigation. The Chester Police Department said it removed Paparo from active duty and placed him on administrative leave after being notified in August 2026, and it declined further comment.
Why it matters
The charges allege that an officer used access to a statewide criminal justice database for purposes unrelated to police work. The charges are allegations, and the outcome of the case is not yet known.
Charged: Prosecutors filed criminal charges. A charge is not proof of guilt, and the person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Researched with AI assistance from the sources listed here and reviewed under our methodology.