Raul "Christian" Sandoval Jr., 34, and his father, 58-year-old Raul Sandoval Sr., turned themselves in to Bensalem police on Thursday and were arraigned on charges tied to child sexual abuse material, officials said. Both men were taken to the Bucks County Correctional Facility, where they are being held on $2,000,000 bail each. The case centers on an apartment in the Salem Crossing complex, where investigators say they seized electronic devices during a March search.
Investigation Started With CyberTipline Report
Bensalem detectives say the investigation began after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children forwarded a CyberTipline report that flagged attempted online activity linked to a unit at the Salem Crossing Apartments on Old Street Road, police told CBS Philadelphia. That tip led to a search of the apartment on March 12, authorities said, where officers collected digital evidence and submitted it for forensic analysis.
What a CyberTipline Report Means
The CyberTipline is the nation's centralized reporting system for suspected online sexual exploitation of children. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, or NCMEC, reviews incoming tips and forwards actionable leads to local law enforcement for investigation. According to NCMEC, analysts work to identify potential victims and route information to the appropriate agencies for follow-up, including federal partners.
What Detectives Say They Found
During the March search, police say detectives seized an HP desktop computer belonging to Sandoval Jr. and a phone belonging to Sandoval Sr. A forensic review of the son's hard drive allegedly uncovered more than 100 images of girls estimated to be about 6 to 12 years old, while the father's phone reportedly contained images of younger girls, police told CBS Philadelphia. Both men were charged with sexual abuse of children involving abuse material and with criminal use of a communication facility, authorities said.
Charges Under Pennsylvania Law
Prosecutors charged the pair under Pennsylvania statutes that address child sexual abuse material and the use of communication devices to commit crimes. The sexual abuse of children statute is codified at 18 Pa.C.S. 7 6312, which covers possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material, and 18 Pa.C.S. 7 7512 makes criminal use of a communication facility a third-degree felony. If convicted, the defendants would face penalties guided by those statutes and any applicable sentencing enhancements.
Next Steps and Resources
The investigation remains active, and prosecutors are expected to determine additional or amended filings as the case progresses. Police have asked anyone with information to contact the Bensalem Township Police Department. Federal guidance encourages reporting suspected online child sexual abuse material through the CyberTipline or directly to local law enforcement, and the FBI and NCMEC provide resources for victims and families.
