MSP release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009
STATE POLICE ARREST MAN FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
(Pasadena, MD) – The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit arrested an Anne Arundel County man with the possession and distribution of child pornography today.
The accused is identified as Kevin Scott Ferguson, 30, of the 8000-block of Corkberry Lane in Pasadena. Ferguson is charged with six counts of distributing child pornography, six counts of possessing child pornography, and one count of possession of marijuana. If convicted, Ferguson could be sentenced up to 73 years in prison and/or $166,000 in fines.

A state trooper assigned to the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began the investigation after locating a computer on a peer-to-peer network offering pornographic videos of children for others to download. Troopers were able to trace the computer back to Ferguson. Investigators executed a search warrant at Ferguson’s Pasadena residence and confiscated multiple computers, hard drives, and miscellaneous storage media.

A complete forensic analysis of the confiscated equipment was conducted by the Maryland State Police Computer Forensics Laboratory. Examiners recovered dozens of videos and images of children engaged in various stages of sexual activity.

Earlier this morning, Ferguson turned himself in to a state police investigator from the Computer Crimes Unit. Ferguson was processed and taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was released with no bond, pending a future trial date.

The primary mission of the Computer Crimes Unit is to protect children from computer facilitated, sexual exploitation. The unit works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. The unit is also charged with helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education and community awareness.