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WILKES-BARRE — A hang-up call to Luzerne County 911 in 2016 that resulted in the discovery of a marijuana growing operation and child pornography landed the homeowner in state prison on Monday.
Albert F. Motel, 66, of Shannon Drive, Sugarloaf Township, was sentenced by Luzerne County President Judge Michael T. Vough to 18 months to three years in state prison, followed by seven years probation.
Motel was sentenced on a long list of charges, including possession of child pornography and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
According to court records:
Authorities responded to Shannon Drive due to a hang up call to 911 on Sept. 1, 2016.
When officers arrived, they noticed Shannon Drive was a dirt road and the houses had no identifying address numbers.
While authorities were searching for the house involving the hang up call, an officer spotted through a window marijuana on the floor at Motel’s residence.
One officer discovered an unlocked door and officers announced themselves as police. An odor of marijuana was immediately detected by officers coming from the house.
Due to the hang-up call, officers entered the house and discovered marijuana in plain view in the kitchen as well as marijuana seedlings in a bedroom.
Police also found four potted marijuana plants in an outside garden and nine marijuana plants in woods near the residence, court records say.
Police obtained a search warrant for the residence.
During the search, numerous pieces of paper with handwritten web sites were found on a desk indicating Motel was searching for child pornography, court records say.
Several pictures of the backsides of girls walking with parents were also found on the desk.
Police said the pictures were taken at a local grocery store and were taken with the intent to capture the buttocks of the girls, according to court records.
A second search warrant was obtained upon the discovery of the pictures and notes of websites.
A forensic search of a computer seized from Motel’s residence uncovered 79 images of children, some as young as 2-years-old, court records say.
In addition to his prison time, Motel must also register his address for 15 years under the state’s Megan’s Law.