July 14, 2016
Source/Montgomery County District Attorney's Office
Edward Mugford III, 26, of Huntingdon Valley.
Montgomery County officials have arrested and charged a 26-year-old Huntingdon Valley man with possession and distribution of child pornography, officials announced Thursday.
According to prosecutors, 26-year-old James Edward Mugford III was identified as a suspect after Abington Township Police Detective Richard Beaghley launched an undercover investigation.
During the electronic communications operation, Beaghley located a computer that had been specifically configured for anonymous file-sharing. When he connected to it, he received 175 files containing child pornography. Further investigation traced the computer to Mugford's home, where a search warrant led to the seizure of an Apple Macbook.
Forensic examination revealed a total 2,019 images and three videos of child pornography.
Mugford was arraigned and later released on $20,000 bail. He waived his preliminary hearing on reduced counts of 25 counts of distribution and 50 counts of possession, in addition to criminal use of a communications facility.
