TOWANDA, PA. Sept 9, 2014: A Towanda landlord, who is accused of possessing child pornography and using an electronic device to listen to a tenant having sex, is being held on $500,000 bail, according to court records. Daniel L. Bell, 65, of Towanda was charged Monday with 19 counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of wiretapping, both third-degree felonies, police said.

…The illegal activity was uncovered during a search that the Bradford County Probation Department conducted of Bell’s residence on April 4, police said. At the time, Bell was on probation and being supervised by the Probation Department, police said. During the search, the Probation Department seized the receiver unit for a baby monitor, which the Probation Department had information to believe Bell was using to eavesdrop on a tenant of his who lives in an adjoining building, police said.

…The sending unit for the baby monitor, which includes a microphone and transmitter, was located in the basement of the tenant’s residence, below her bedroom, police said. The sending unit was located between floor joists in the ceiling of the basement, Towanda Police Detective Al Ogden said.

 


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Baby monitors are one of the most used consumer-ready eavesdropping devices. If you have a new baby in your home and are using a wireless monitor, be aware that others may be able to listen to your bedrooms as well. Be sure to turn the transmitter off when not in use. Monitors that used “DECT” signalling have encryption that can prevent the audio from being casually listened to.