A Schuylkill County man is facing charges of possessing illicit photos of a minor girl as well as drug and parphernalia offenses.
State Police-Schuylkill Haven say they were called to a home in Tower City in December 2024 for a reported disturbance. At the scene, they interviewed the person making the complaint, the mother of the subject of those illicit photos.
The complainant reportedly told police that Kevin Jovel, 20, of Mahanoy City, possessed the nude photos in his wallet. She also told police that she found marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside her vehicle, which Jovel was allegedly using without permission.
Police say they found a metal smoking device, a metal grinder, and bag of suspected marijuana inside the center console of the vehicle.
The subject of those illicit photos was interviewed by police. She reportedly told police that Jovel had taken the photos and kept them in his wallet.
Jovel was interviewed by police at the scene. They say Jovel initially denied possessing the weed and paraphernalia but later said they might be his and he’d forgotten that he put the items in the vehicle.
Police later gained possession of the illicit photos, which had been taken out of Jovel’s wallet prior to police arriving on the scene. The photos were partially burned, police say. The victim told police she began burning the images out of frustration. Police say there are no facial features shown in the photos.
Jovel was charged recently with felony counts of possessing child pornography and corruption of minors as well as misdemeanor offenses possessing a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
Jovel was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer on July 26. Bayer set bail at $25,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing before Judge David Rossi has been scheduled for Oct. 2.
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