LINESVILLE – A Linesville man is facing trial in Crawford County on more than 100 charges related to alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.
William Earl Sampson 54, of Penn Street, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on a total of 121 felony counts filed by the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
Police allege Sampson uploaded or downloaded child pornographic computer files 20 times between August 24, 2022 and May 3 this year through Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Sampson, who went by the online name “Jasmine Samson,” had more than 2,000 images of child pornography on his computers and cellphones, according to the criminal complaint filed by police.
In an interview at his apartment with state police on May 3, Sampson admitted that he had viewed, stored and sent child pornography to other people, as well as exchanging images with others, according to the arrest affidavit filed with the indictment.
Police charged Sampson with 100 counts of possession of child pornography, 20 counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communications device.
By waiving his right to Tuesday’s preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Adam Stallard in Linesville, Sampson was automatically ordered for trial on all counts.
He will be tried on the charges in the March 2025 criminal trial in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas.
Sampson is being held at the Crawford County Correctional Facility in Saegertown in lieu of $100,000 bail pending trial.
