Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by James Short.
A Pennsylvania registered sexually violent predator who showed up at Pennsylvania State Police Skippack barracks to update his yearly offender compliance was apprehended on an active warrant for 19 felony counts of child pornography in Upper Providence Township.
Police said Gary Justin Russell, 35, of Phonenixville,a arrived at the station at 2071-A Cressman Road at 3:50 p.m. on July 18 to update his yearly Megan’s Law sex offender registration compliance, but it ended with him fleeing out the front door.
A check of Russell’s criminal record revealed an active arrest warrant issued three days prior by Upper Providence Township Police, charging him in an incident that allegedly occurred June 4, 2024, per court records.
Read about that incident and case here.
Police said Russell escaped out of the front of the barracks and was apprehended a short time later.
Pennsylvania State Police is handling the investigation.
According to court dockets, Russell remains confined at Montgomery County jail since July 19 on $99,000 cash bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14 at 11 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar.
Russell was arrested in March 2014 by Whitpain Township Police on charges of aggravated indecent assault on someone less than 16, and aggravated indecent assault, and later was found guilty by trial on March 18, 2015, per court records. His sentencing required he register as a Pennsylvania sex offender.
According to the PA Megan’s Law database, Russell is a sexually violent predator, who, as of July 18, 2024, is a transient who resided in the area of Walmart on South Trooper Road in West Norriton Township.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
