Richland man admits to sharing child pornography on Kik, awaits sentencing
Defendant uploaded CSAM to the social media platform, which was flagged by authorities
A Bucks County man, with ties to Plainfield, NJ, awaits sentencing in Bucks County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty last week to a felony count of possession of child pornography, related to the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files on Kik between September 9 and December 31, 2024.
David Krom, 48, of Richland Township, had a remaining felony charge of criminal use of a communications device dismissed as part of the guilty plea agreement, according to court records. A felony charge of disseminating photos or films of children in sex acts was withdrawn at a preliminary hearing.
On Dec. 16, 2024, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office began an investigation of a CyperTip submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via MediaLab/Kik, according to the criminal complaint. The original CyperTip was received by NCMEC n Sept. 21, 2024.
The tip indicated a Kik user sharing two CSAM files through the online platform on Sept. 9 at 1:34 p.m. and 1:40 p.m., according to the affidavit. Kik turned over IP addresses the screen/user name and all other pertinent information to authorities.
Furthermore, Kik provided device manufacturer information for the device used to register the account, which was an Apple iPhone, police said.
Authorities sajd the two IP addresses were connected to one Kik account and both were used to share CSAM files. The IP addresses were registered to Verizon, which, when subpoenaed, turned over records to investigators showing Krom as the registered owner of the IP addresses, according to the complaint.
Authorities said Kik account records were obtained via search warrant and reviewed by investigators. Within the CSAM videos and among the media files on the account were selfies of Krom, police said. Account records showed information related to the distribution of CSAM files from Krom’s Kik account to another user.
Police executed a search warrant on Krom’s home on New Year’s Eve, seizing numerous devices, including an iPhone, Apple iPad, a Google Pixel phone, a MacBook, several laptops, and several storage drives, according to the affidavit.
During the warrant, Krom was interviewed by investigators, including Warrington Township Police and Homeland Security special agents, where he admitted to having accessed and distributed CSAM via Kik.
Krom is free on $50,000 unsecured bail ahead of an Aug. 20 sentencing. He is represented by attorney William Buchanan of Quakertown.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
