Three Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

State police have arrested three people in connection with an ongoing child pornography investigation.

Joseph Thibeault of Bristol, Karol Hernas of Farmington and Patrick McMahon of Virginia were arrested Oct. 1 after police found child pornography on computers linked to each of the three suspects, authorities said.

Thibeault, 38, of 235 Wolcott Street in Bristol, turned himself in yesterday and was charged with obscenity, promoting a minor in an obscene performance and first-degree illegal possession of child pornography, according to police.

Police said Thibeault was identified as a suspect in July after officers executed a search warrant and found child pornography on a computer at his home.

He was held on a $250,000 bond and was arraigned yesterday.

Farmington resident Karol Hernas, 65, of 17 Hotchkiss road was also arrested yesterday. Hernas was charged with promoting a minor in an obscene performance and first-degree illegal possession of child pornography.

Police said a June 2010 investigation found that child pornography was being shared from an internet account linked to Hernas’ home. A search and seizure was executed in November 2010.

Hernas was held on a $25,000 bond.

Twenty-six-year-old Patrick McMahon, of 209 Holland Street in Virginia, turned himself in to Connecticut State Police yesterday on an active arrest warrant, police said.

He was charged with promoting a minor in an obscene performance and first-degree illegal possession of child pornography.

Police said McMahon was identified as a suspect following a March 2010 search and seizure at 235 South Main Street in Wallingford.

McMahon was released on a $25,000 bond and is due in Meriden Superior Court on Oct. 15.

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