Child Predator Section Arrests Fugitive with Gun in Bethlehem

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a wanted fugitive from Northampton County is in custody after Office of Attorney General agents serving a warrant found him hiding under blankets on a child’s bed.

Noel A. Tirado, 41, was under investigation for uploading child sexual abuse material when agents found that Tirado also had warrants out of Lehigh, Northampton, and Monroe counties for escape, terroristic threats, and simple assault.

Earlier this month, agents arrested Tirado, who was hiding at an acquaintance’s home in Bethlehem. Tirado was wearing a gun holster, and a loaded 9mm handgun was concealed in a nearby bedroom in a dresser drawer.

Tirado is also charged with manufacturing and possession of child sexual abuse material. At arraignment, bail was set at $1 million cash.

“Our agents located and removed from the community a dangerous fugitive who is facing new charges for creating child sexual abuse material and for having a loaded gun while wanted by law enforcement,” Attorney General Sunday said. “We thank our local police partners for assisting in this warrant service and ensuring this offender was taken into custody.”

The Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section discovered that Tirado had manufactured video recordings of a very young child known to him. Tirado also had other videos and photos of child sexual abuse material.

In addition to sexual abuse of children, Tirado is charged with possession of a prohibited firearm and criminal use of a communication facility.

The new charges will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Michelle Laucella of the Child Predator Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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