Chester police officer faces 105 counts after using state records system to search personal contacts

Leon Paparo, a 45-year-old former Chester police officer, surrendered to Delaware County investigators on Tuesday and was booked into the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. District Attorney Tanner Rouse charged Paparo with possession of child pornography and the misuse of law enforcement resources to conduct unauthorized searches. Paparo is being held in lieu of bail, which is set at 10% of a total amount of $500,000. Court records showed no attorney listed for Paparo as of Tuesday.

The investigation began in April when the Chester Police Department detected suspicious activity within JNET, the Pennsylvania system used by law enforcement and criminal justice professionals to access records online. Detectives found that Paparo had used the system to search for ex-girlfriends, city personnel, court staff, local residents, and employees of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. The city of Chester stated that the police department learned of the investigation in August and placed Paparo on administrative leave at that time.

Although Rouse referred to Paparo as a former officer, the city confirmed he remained on the payroll during the investigation. Paparo joined the force in 2008 and had worked in the records department since approximately 2018. The city noted in a Tuesday statement that the department takes such matters seriously and is committed to appropriate administrative action. Officials said they would offer no further comment to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

During the review of the case, a county detective uncovered a 2015 incident involving Paparo and a girl who was underage at the time. The affidavit of probable cause stated that Paparo allegedly had inappropriate contact with the girl, though no charges were filed in that instance. The investigation revealed that Paparo later conducted searches on the now-adult woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, and her mother.

Detectives also searched Paparo’s iPhone and found a folder labeled Random containing seven nude images of another underage girl. The photos showed the girl photographing herself in a mirror. The affidavit stated that Paparo allegedly captured these images in 2024 while they were displayed on the Snapchat app of a phone belonging to a relative. The document did not specify the exact nature of the relative’s relationship to Paparo.

The 16-year-old victim told investigators she knew Paparo but did not intend for him to obtain the photos. Paparo faced 105 criminal counts in total. Among these were seven counts of child sexual abuse materials. The charges reflect both the digital searches and the possession of the images found on his device.

Rouse described the case as an abuse of authority and a betrayal of public trust. In a statement, Rouse said it is unimaginable that a law enforcement officer would use his position to solicit sexual images of minors. Rouse noted that the case hits close to home because staff in the district attorney’s office had their information accessed without a legitimate purpose.

The district attorney said that employees who serve Delaware County should not have to worry about their data being improperly accessed by someone they are meant to trust. Rouse stated that the office will not tolerate the exploitation of children or the abuse of official power. Paparo remains in custody at the correctional facility while the legal process moves forward.

The city of Chester reiterated that Paparo is still on administrative leave as of Tuesday. The department is awaiting the outcome of the criminal proceedings. The specific details of the unauthorized searches spanned multiple years and involved various individuals connected to the local government and the police force itself.