NEW CASTLE, Pa. - A Lawrence County man arrested last month on more than a dozen child pornography charges waived his preliminary hearing on Thursday, moving the case to Common Pleas Court.

According to court records, 69-year-old Robert Burns of Shenango Township faces 15 felony counts of child pornography and one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility.

A formal arraignment in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court before Judge J. Craig Cox is scheduled for June 3 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 2.

According to a criminal complaint, investigators received a cyber tip in August 2024 alleging that suspected child pornography files were viewed via an IP address that traced back to Burns.

Investigators stated the files depicted children between the ages of three and 13 engaged in sexual acts or poses.

A search warrant for Burns' home was executed on March 14. Investigators said that Burns, who lives alone, told them the laptop in his living room belonged to him.

The complaint stated that Burns admitted to viewing child pornography, claiming some instances were "pop ups." He also reportedly told investigators that he searches for "porn" online and sometimes encounters child pornography, which he tries to avoid and delete.

Investigators quoted Burns as saying he looks at child pornography because he likes to see "the development of kids [and] how they grow and mature," finding their transition into "beautiful young women" appealing.

According to the complaint, Burns acknowledged it was wrong to view the images but admitted that seeing females develop from a young age was a "turn on" for him.