News

December 19, 2009

Ex-Hazleton Area coach faces child pornography charges

Police allege former soccer coach had images on his personal computer at home.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WRIGHT TWP. – A former Hazleton Area soccer coach was arrested on Friday on charges he possessed hundreds of images of child pornography on computers.

Andre A. Alvear, 49, of East Diamond Avenue, Hazleton, was charged with 340 counts of possession of child pornography, nine counts of dissemination of child pornography and a single count of criminal use of communication facility. He was arraigned by District Judge Ronald Swank in Wright Township and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $35,000 bail.

Alvear was arrested after he was released from First Hospital in Kingston, where he had been treated for mental health issues.

Alvear coached boys and girls soccer for about six years at Hazleton Area. He last coached in 2006.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Luzerne County detectives:

A state police trooper with the computer crime unit assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force located a person using a file sharing program on the Internet viewing and exchanging child pornography on Nov. 2.

Investigators traced the Internet Provider address to Alvear’s residence, which was searched on Dec. 3, the criminal complaint says. Alvear admitted to investigators that he downloaded the child pornography on a desktop computer and a laptop computer in his bedroom.

Alvear claimed he purchased a computer in 2000 that had the file sharing program already installed. He began downloading images of teenagers, and started downloading images of children because he was “just curious,” the criminal complaint says.

Investigators allege Alvear used certain letters to search for child pornography.

Alvear said he knew it was wrong to download child pornography, but believed it was private.

Investigators said they recovered 38 images and 17 videos of child pornography on Alvear’s laptop computer, and 56 images and 227 videos of child pornography on Alvear’s desktop computer, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23 before District Judge Joseph Zola in Hazleton.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

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