CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — A Chambersburg man with prior convictions for possessing child sexual abuse material was denied bail this week after authorities alleged he again possessed and shared illicit files online.
Magisterial District Judge Glenn Manns ordered David Frank Greenawalt IV held without bail, writing that no conditions of release were available to protect young people in the community, according to court records.
Greenawalt is charged with 99 felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility. He remained in the Franklin County Jail following his arraignment.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Child Predator Section began investigating in August after receiving information about potential sharing of child sexual abuse material through BitTorrent peer-to-peer networks, according to charging documents.
Investigators used internet protocol address information and assistance from other law enforcement agencies to trace the alleged activity to a Chambersburg residence. Authorities later determined the address was a halfway house where Greenawalt was living while on probation for prior Cumberland County convictions involving child sexual abuse material possession.
Police said Greenawalt had been convicted in 2022 and 2023 in Cumberland County in separate cases involving possession of child sexual abuse material. One of the previous cases also involved allegations that he used a torrenting service to obtain or distribute illicit material.
Investigators executed a search warrant at the halfway house Sept. 29 and located Greenawalt and two other people inside, court records state.
During interviews, Greenawalt provided investigators with information about his internet service provider, cellphone provider and phone type, according to the affidavit. Police said he told them another person at the residence may have used his internet connection on occasion.
However, investigators said an examination of the internet service provider’s router showed Greenawalt was the only person using the connection.
Authorities alleged that a search of Greenawalt’s electronic devices uncovered at least 60 files identified as child sexual abuse material. Investigators also reported finding 38 files described in court documents as artificially generated child sexual abuse material.
The investigation remains ongoing.
