A Bethlehem man could spend up to a decade in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sex abuse material created with the help of artificial intelligence to alter photos of young girls.
Adam Erdman, 35, was one of the first people prosecuted under a new Pennsylvania law banning AI-generated sexual images of children, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said.
Bethlehem police began investigating Erdman in March after his estranged wife reported finding three images in an email on his computer. He was charged April 17.
Authorities said Erdman altered vacation photos of two underage children he found on a parent’s social media site, making the girls appear naked.
Erdman entered his plea before Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks, who scheduled sentencing — and a hearing to determine whether he is a sexually violent predator — at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 15. He faces a possible sentence of 5 to 10 years.
The case was investigated by Bethlehem Police Detective Stephen Ewald and prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach.
The legislation banning AI child sex abuse images was sponsored by Sens. Tracy Pennycuick, Jimmy Dillon and Lisa Boscola.
The three lawmakers said in a news release in October, when the bill received final legislative approval, that it addresses the “alarming rise” in AI-generated sexual abuse materials of nonconsenting adults and children.

