FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
FEBRUARY 15, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HAGERSTOWN MAN INDICTED FOR RECEIPT AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted Mark Bartles, age 42, of Hagerstown, Maryland, today for receipt and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to court documents, in November of 2006, Bartles used Peer to Peer networking software to download and share images of child pornography. Special Agents of the FBI, from Florida and Louisiana, were able to locate Bartles’ computer which connected to the Internet from his residence by tracking down his IP address. The FBI searched Bartles’ residence and seized a stack of computer print outs of child pornography and his computer. The images of child pornography that Bartles shared or possessed involved prepubescent children, including toddlers, being sexually abused.
Bartles faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison followed by supervised release for life for receipt of child pornography; and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography followed by supervised release for life. Bartles’ initial appearance in U.S. District Court has not yet been scheduled.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Fortune, who is prosecuting the case.