DA's office: 'Suspicious' new images found on Phil Ahr's Radnor Township-issued iPad
It's unclear if Ahr shared any pornographic images from his township iPad - or if he faces additional charges after the DA investigates the latest discovery
When Philip Ahr resigned Monday from his post on the Radnor board of commissioners — almost a month after being charged with child pornography — he also turned in a township-issued iPad.
On the device, Radnor Township officials discovered additional "suspicious or concerning" images and turned it over to Delaware County authorities, a District Attorney's Office spokeswoman said Tuesday. County forensic analysts planned to conduct a review of the iPad.
It was not immediately clear when the images were obtained by Ahr or whether they were shared with anyone online. It was also unclear if Ahr could face additional charges because of the discovery.
The 67-year-old Bryn Mawr man, who led the board of the Main Line town for more than a year, was charged Oct. 11 with sharing and seeking hundreds of images of children, some as young as infants and toddlers, being abused by adults. Since at least 2013, Ahr allegedly logged onto illicit chat rooms to distribute and discuss the images, often using the username "Daddy X" or "Daddy XX."
Ahr, who is free on bond, and his attorney, Mark P. Much, declined to comment at Ahr's arraignment last month and have not returned multiple calls from the Inquirer and Daily News since the criminal investigation began in September.
Two weeks ago, Ahr, a Democrat, stepped down from his role as president of the board but said he planned to stay on as commissioner of the Seventh Ward, which encompasses parts of Villanova and Bryn Mawr. He had been absent from all meetings since the investigation began, but the board charter states that no commissioner can be removed unless convicted of a crime.
Ahr, a husband and father of two grown sons, has been placed on administrative leave from the Malvern-based Progressive Business Publications, where he worked as a marketing director. A University of Notre Dame graduate, Ahr also served as parish council president at Our Mother of Good Counsel in Bryn Mawr.
His preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 30.