From staff reports

HUNTINGDON — Charges for a Lewistown man arrested for having inappropriate images of young girls were bound up to the Huntingdon County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday.

Patrick Roland Melvin, 27, waived his rights to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Rufus S. Brennenman on charges including more than a dozen felony counts of having material that depicts the sexual exploitation of children and illegal use of a communication device to commit a crime.

According to court documents, police received a tip from Children and Youth Services that a patient who was at the Behavioral Health Unit at Penns Highlands Hospital, Huntingdon, had inappropriate images of young girls ages 6 to 14.

The images were found when hospital staff were cataloging the patient’s (Melvin’s) belongings. The report states that when they went to turn off the cell phone, images from the photo gallery were displayed. Staff noted that the gallery was in “thumbnail mode,” allowing many images to be seen.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, a search warrant obtained for Melvin’s cell phone in September 2025 found videos “clearly produced using photo editing software” to simulate a teenager engaging in sex acts.

In 12 videos, police said, the 15-year-old’s face was added in place of another person’s while sex acts were being performed.

Melvin is being held in Centre County Prison. Melvin’s next court date is set for 9 a.m. April 21.