HARRISBURG - The child pornography trial of a retired Mount Carmel police officer has been delayed for the third time.
U.S. Middle District Senior Judge William W. Caldwell on Monday granted the motion of Blaine R. Handerhan, 55, who now lives in Jonestown, Lebanon County. Jury selection is now scheduled for Aug. 8 rather than June 20.
Handerhan said he has retained an expert and time is needed for him to examine computer equipment that was seized by authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Clancy did not oppose the continuance.
The trial was initially scheduled for Jan. 10, but it was continued until April 18 at the request of Handerhan's lawyer, Matthew R. Gover, Harrisburg. The defendant was again granted a continuance as that date approached, and the trial was rescheduled for June 20.
Handerhan was indicted Oct. 13 on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography. He pleaded innocent Nov. 2 before Magistrate Judge J. Andrew Smyser and was released on personal recognizance with conditions that included home confinement with electronic monitoring.
Restrictions modified
Caldwell recently modified those conditions to allow Handerhan to be away from home between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Gover made that request April 12, saying Handerhan had voluntarily been evaluated by TRIAD treatment specialists and undergone extensive testing that concluded he would not be at increased risk of sexual recidivism if he were allowed to have more flexibility from his supervision. Gover argued the restrictions were creating a serious hardship for Handerhan's ability to raise his children.
Retired in 2005
Handerhan, who served as a Mount Carmel policeman for 30 years before retiring on Oct. 30, 2005, at the rank of lieutenant, was ordered to avoid all contact with victims or witnesses in the case and any child under the age of 18, except his own children. He was restricted to travel only in counties in the Middle District Court of Pennsylvania and ordered to surrender any passport, which Handerhan told the judge he did not possess.
Handerhan also had to surrender any firearms or other dangerous weapons.