The trial of retired city businessman Ricky Lynn “Rick” Troutman, charged with creating and distributing child pornography, has been postponed from July to September.
The continuance was requested by his Reading attorney, Jay Nigrini. No reason was given, but Lebanon County criminal court procedure usually allows at least one trial postponement without a specific explanation. Defense attorneys and prosecutors often request such delays to afford them more time to prepare for trial or due to scheduling conflicts.
Troutman was the former owner of Camelot Dry Cleaners at 12th and Walnut streets in Lebanon at the time of his arrest on Dec. 15, 2023, following an investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.
Investigators say they received a tip from the operators of Kik, a Canadian instant messaging service, alleging that a user had uploaded digital files of child pornography containing naked images of a male and a female, both “prepubescent.”
Records produced by cellphone companies in response to subpoenas confirmed that Troutman had uploaded the photos, investigators claim.
A post-arrest search of Troutman’s phone uncovered two photos consistent with the tip. Investigators also allege that Troutman uploaded a video of an unidentified naked female, approximately 7 to 9 years old.
Troutman, 68, faces four charges of sexual abuse of children and one charge of criminal use of a communication facility. All are felonies.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and faces up to 44 years in jail.
Shortly after his arrest, Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf told LebTown that a search at Troutman’s home uncovered an additional roughly 1,000,000 pornographic images, of which about 200,000 were believed to be illegal images of children.
Troutman remains in the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, unable to post $200,000 bail. If released on bail, Judge Donna Long Brightbill has ordered that he have no contact with any individual or family member identified in the charging documents and “no contact with any minor whatsoever.”
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