BELLEFONTE — State and federal authorities carried out a multi-agency operation across Centre County last week, dubbed “Operation Happy Valley Roundup,” that resulted in the pending arrest of two local men accused of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Hunter Kenneth Lewis Henney, 22, of Howard, was charged with 23 counts, and Cody Lee Emel, 37, of Snow Shoe, with 15, including dissemination and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and criminal use of a communication facility.

Their arrests are pending the completion of digital forensics, state police said.

According to law enforcement, the operation aimed to identify offenders involved in the possession, distribution and production of CSAM, as well as to locate victims of child exploitation in Centre County.

During the five-day operation, the task force responded to 12 residences in connection with the investigation, executing 10 search warrants that ultimately led to the charges against Henny and Emel.

An unspecified number of juvenile victims were identified during the operation. Police said the identified victims and their parents were then educated about the dangers of online activity.

Henny faces multiple charges, including one count of felony sexual abuse of children (dissemination) under Title 18, Section 6312(c); 16 counts of felony sexual abuse of children (possession) under Sections 6312(c) and 6312(d); and six counts of felony criminal use of a communication facility under Section 7512(a).

In 2024, Henney was charged with corruption of minors and harassment for inappropriately messaging a 15-year-old boy.

Emel faces charges including two counts of felony sexual abuse of children (dissemination) under Section 6312(c); 10 counts of felony sexual abuse of children (possession) under Section 6312(d); and two counts of felony criminal use of a communication facility under Section 7512(a).

“Operation Happy Valley Roundup” was led by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations’ Southwest Computer Crime Task Force, in collaboration with PSP’s Northeast task force, state police at Rockview, FBI Philadelphia’s State College and Williamsport resident agencies, the Patton Township Police Department, Delaware County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and Centre County District Attorney’s Office.

The Southwest Computer Crime Task Force is a member of the ICAC Task Force Program, a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing 4,500 enforcement and prosecutorial agencies from the local to federal level that are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigation and prosecution of internet-related crimes against children.

The Pennsylvania State Police are part of the ICAC Task Force Program, a national network of 61 coordinated divisions representing 4,500 local, state and federal enforcement and prosecutorial agencies engaged in the investigation and prosecution of internet-related crimes against children.

Parents and guardians can find resources and information on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website, www.missingkids.org.