WILLIAMSPORT - The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested Jeffrey Boop, 50, of the Milton area, in a remote, wooded location south of Montandon on Wednesday.
On April 27, the United States Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania filed criminal charges against Boop. He was charged with possession of child pornography. Boop also has a prior conviction in Florida relating to sexual abuse and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor.
The charge arose out of a nationwide operation targeting individuals possessing and trading child pornography. If convicted of the offense, Boop faces a maximum penalty of 20 years federal imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. The investigation was conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Philadelphia.
On June 14, Boop was scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones in federal court in Williamsport for his initial appearance, and to enter a guilty plea to the criminal charge. Boop failed to appear and an arrest warrant was issued.
"Cases which involve the exploitation and abuse of children are given the highest priority," acting U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane said. "Individuals who fail to appear for federal court proceedings show their total disregard for the criminal justice system. They must be brought to justice."
U.S. Marshals in Williamsport initiated a fugitive investigation. Campsites and river lots in and around Sunbury, Northumberland, Lewisburg, Montandon and Milton and wooded locations in western Montour County were searched.
On Wednesday evening, U.S. Marshals located Boop in a heavily wooded area approximately one mile south of Montandon, between Route 405 and Route 147. At the location, U.S. Marshals found a generator and seized a rifle, a machete, several knives, an axe, a saw, ammunition, two laptop computers, a 30-day supply of foodstuffs, five 5-gallon water containers and a large amount of alcohol.
Boop, who is incarcerated at Lycoming County Prison in Williamsport, will be arraigned by Jones in federal court in Williamsport at 2 p.m. today.
U.S. Marshals were assisted by several agencies that comprise its Middle District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force, including the Lycoming County Sheriff's Office, the Union County Sheriff's Office and the Northumberland County Adult Probation Office.