A well-known children's entertainer in Northern Virginia is facing child pornography charges.
Steven Rossi, of Reston, who is often known by his stage name, "Mr. Knick Knack," was arrested April 30 and posted bail May 2. He is charged with 10 counts of felony possession of child pornography.
Following a tip from an internet service provider, detectives found numerous files containing illicit images, authorities said.
"We uncovered over 50 images,” Special Victims Division Commander Lt. Rex Pagerie said. "Through coordination with the commonwealth attorney, we made charges — 10 counts of child pornography.”
For more than a decade, Rossi, 58, has been regularly entertaining children with his music at Reston Town Center, Tysons Corner and Market Common in Clarendon.
He also performed at hundreds of birthday parties, and his press material says Rossi has been featured at two vice-presidential events.
Fairfax County Police said a preliminary investigation does not indicate Rossi had contact with any of the children shown in the images.
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"Was he in contact with any children physically? At this point in the investigation, through everything we’ve looked at with his electronic devices, there’s no indication there was any physical contact with children, but this is still an ongoing investigation," Pagerie said.
News4 went to Rossi's home Thursday, but no one answered the door.
However, detectives are encouraging anyone who has information to come forward. Anyone who believe their child or family member may have had contact with Rossi is asked to call police at 703-246-7800. Anonymous tips can be submitted online at fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, by calling 1-866-411-TIPS, or by texting "TIP187" plus your message to CRIMES (274637).
