Maryland Man Facing 13 Child Pornography Charges

Child porn crimes are on the rise all over the country. People who have been bored during the coronavirus lockdown have discovered child porn images online, and many don’t have the self-control to look away. They download hundreds or even thousands of images, victimizing babies, toddlers and young children each time.

A Maryland man has been arrested after an investigation showed he downloaded more than 3,000 child porn images. The 41-year-old man from Manchester is facing 13 criminal charges, including eight counts of possessing child pornography (misdemeanors) and five counts of distribution and promotion of child pornography (felonies).

In January 2020, a state trooper was looking for child porn offenders online. He was investigating a peer-to-peer network for offenders when he came across an internet service provider’s address that had 427 files downloaded and available for viewing. The trooper viewed five files and found they were images of toddler girls and prepubescent girls in sexually explicit poses.

Police investigated the internet address and obtained a search and seizure warrant. The warrant was served at the man’s home in Manchester on April 24. The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children and Homeland Security Investigations assisted in the investigation.

The man was interviewed and he admitted to deleting the child porn files that he found on the peer-to-peer network. He referred to the child porn images as “art.”

Police seized the man’s electronic devices and discovered 97 files referred to as “child pornography.” There were also more than 3,000 images and videos that showed children naked or with minimal clothing.

Police served an arrest warrant for the man on January 19. He was arrested and released the next day on a $10,000 bond. He is set to appear in Carroll County District Court on February 19.

What is a Peer-to-Peer Network?

A peer-to-peer network is a network in which multiple PCs share files and access to devices on the same server. This type of network is often found in office environments.

Peer-to-peer networks are also used to distribute child porn files to others. These networks come with default settings that allow users to share their files with others. This means that a person who stores child pornography on a peer-to-peer network has allowed other users on the network to access these files. According to the government, use of such a network constitutes both delivery and distribution of child porn images, which elevates the criminal charges.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Child porn is a serious crime that involves innocent children. These crimes are punished harshly, and while the charges can be reduced, it is difficult to do so. This is especially true when there are many images involved.

You need aggressive representation on your side. The Columbia child pornography lawyers at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. can help. We are knowledgeable of the applicable laws and can assist you in getting a favorable outcome. Fill out the online form or call (410) 774-5987 to schedule a free consultation. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/crime/cc-hein-child-porn-charges-20210125-cvt5zi76zfb2bdublw3luojb44-story.html