Woman Facing Child Pornography Charges Waives Hearing

A Moon Township woman accused of producing child pornography waived her right to a preliminary hearing Friday in Coraopolis.

Pamela Smallis, 49, who has residences listed in Moon and Oakdale, faces formal arraignment Jan. 3. She is charged with 34 counts of sexual abuse of children, 16 counts of unlawful contact with a minor, five counts of sexual exploitation of children, five counts of endangering the welfare of children, five counts of corruption of minors, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

She is accused of owning 33 photos and two videos showing children engaged in sexual activity following her September arrest.

In April, Moon Township Police charged Smallis with a series of drug offenses. James Ecker and Phillip DiLucente, her attorneys, asked District Judge Mary P. Murray to combine the two cases for court disposition, a request Murray granted.

The attorneys said Smallis would plead not guilty, but they would not discuss her defense.

Smallis is former owner of a child-care service, which was closed by order of the state Department of Public Welfare in 2010.