Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced on Monday that an assistant marching band director at Central Dauphin High School has been charged with distributing and possessing child pornography after investigators found at least 50 files containing images of child pornography in his home. He has since been fired from his position.
“The defendant was trusted by his students and community while he also privately exploited children. Today’s arrest is another step towards a safer Commonwealth,” said AG Shapiro. “We will continue to work to protect children and hold those who hurt them accountable.”
Stephen Gugoff, 39, was arrested on Sunday, June 13. The charges came following the search of his home where agents found at least 50 files containing images of child sexual abuse on electronic devices in his home.
The investigation began after an officer with the Derry Township Police Department discovered an Internet Protocol (IP) address sharing files of child pornography on a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. After obtaining an administrative subpoena based on the IP address for the source of the files, it was determined that the individual who the files were downloaded from was located at Gugoff’s address in Harrisburg.
Gugoff is being charged with 25 counts of disseminating images of child pornography, and 50 counts of possessing those same images. This case is being prosecuted by the Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones. All charges are accusations, and the defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty.