Maryland Police Officer Arrested On Child Porn Charges

Working at a vaccination site as part of his duty for the National Guard led to arrest for a Maryland man. The man, who worked as a police officer in Rockville as well as for Maryland National Guard, was arrested on March 5 after being investigated for downloading child pornography.

The Department of Homeland Security had monitored the police officer’s actions between September 8 and December 30. He was suspected of downloading sexually explicit images and videos of nude young girls. This led to a federal search warrant.

On the morning of March 5, the man was detained at Six Flags America amusement park. He was working at the mass COVID-19 vaccination site as part of his service for the Maryland National Guard. Law enforcement officials searched his home and he was subsequently arrested. He was then booked into the Frederick County Adult Detention Center but was later released after posting bond.

At the time of his arrest, the man was suspended from his job as a Rockville officer for an unrelated matter. The man, who had been a member of the National Guard since 2015, has been removed from active duty due to the allegations. The investigation is ongoing.

Maryland Child Porn Laws

Under Maryland Child Pornography Law Section 11-208, it is illegal to possess any visual representation of a child under the age of 16 who is engaged in sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse. Production and distribution of sexually explicit images of minors is also illegal, as is using a computer to create, edit or store child porn materials. While it is not illegal for a parent to have nude photos of their children, they cannot have images depicting their children in a state of sexual arousal.

A person who is caught engaging in these crimes can face harsh penalties, even for a first-time offense. Such crimes are charged as felonies. Penalties include a fine of $25,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison. For subsequent violations, the penalties increase to a $50,000 fine and/or up to 20 years in prison.

While it is often obvious whether or not the subject of an image or video is a minor, sometimes it is hard to tell. Some teens look older than they really are, while some adults look like teens. However, there are ways in which a court can prove the approximate age of a subject. Some examples include observing the person in the video, oral testimony from a witness and expert medical analysis.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Child porn possession is a serious crime that can lead to prison time and other penalties. It is an especially shocking crime when a police officer is involved.

Child porn crimes are often charged at both the state and federal levels. You need a solid defense from the Columbia child pornography lawyers at The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. Let us help reduce or even eliminate your criminal charges. Get started with a consultation with our office. Call (410) 774-5987 or fill out the online form. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officer-busted-child-porn-charge-while-working-maryland-vaccination-site-n1259846

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