Crime & Safety

Feds Add New Charges Against North Hills Doctor Accused of Possessing Child Pornography

Dr. Mark Janosko, who lives in McCandless, faces up to 50 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000.

This article was written and reported by Editor Richard Cook

A federal grand jury has indicted a McCandless family practice physician on charges of distribution, receipt, and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Dr. Mark Janosko, 47, already faced one count each of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography from the Allegheny County District Attorney's office.

He is scheduled for formal arraignment on Sept. 12. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing on those charges. 

According to the criminal complaint, state police found thousands of child pornography videos on Janosko's home computer. 

The complaint also stated that Janosko admitted he had been viewing and downloading child pornography on and off for years.

He also told investigators that "he could stop anytime," and that it was "not uncontrollable." The criminal complaint also stated that Janosko was aware that it is illegal to view and possess child pornography and "he had never touched a child." 

Janosko is a family physician with West Penn Medical Associates, located on Friendship Avenue, directly across the street from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in Lawrenceville.

A receptionist at West Penn Associates said he is now on leave, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Court records indicate he is free on $250,000 bond.

According to the criminal complaint, a detective in the Indiana County district attorney's office who was monitoring online file sharing services used by people who share and download child pornography noticed the doctor's downloads on July 3 and contacted Allegheny County authorities.

If convicted on the federal charges, Janosko faces up to 50 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000.

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