A Manheim man will serve years in state prison for downloading child pornography, which he told police he had done for years.
David M. Gruel, 43, was sentenced in Lancaster County Court to 2½ to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to several felony counts.
Upon release, Gruel must abide by sex-offender conditions which include restrictions on internet and cellphone access, in accordance with County Judge Jeffery Wright’s sentence.
Judge Wright noted in court that Gruel’s cache of child pornography including graphic videos of children being abused.
Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield stressed in court that Gruel told investigators he had been viewing child pornography for seven years.
The children depicted in the images and videos will live with that damage for their entire lives, Mansfield told the judge.
In January 2015, police seized eight computers and drives from Gruel’s home in the 600 block of Hamaker Road.
Assistant District Attorney Janie Swinehart was lead prosecutor. State police trooper John Sours filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright