TWO ANNE ARUNDEL CO. MEN CHARGED IN UNRELATED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVESTIGATIONS

(Glen Burnie, MD) -- Members of the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit arrested two Anne Arundel County men today as a result of two unrelated investigations into the possession and distribution of child pornography.

James William Szczepanik, 19, of the 7900 block of Pipers Path, Glen Burnie, Md., was arrested this afternoon and charged with five counts of distributing child pornography and ten counts of possessing child pornography. If convicted, Szczepanik could be sentenced up to 70 years in prison and/or $145,000 in fines. He was processed at the Glen Burnie Barracks and is awaiting an initial appearance before a court commissioner.

Raymon Robert Coulter, 68, of the 800 block of North Shore Drive, Glen Burnie, Md., turned himself in to State Police this morning and was charged with two counts of distributing child pornography and four counts of possessing child pornography. If convicted, Coulter could be sentenced up to 28 years in prison and/or $60,000 in fines. He was processed at the Glen Burnie Barracks and is awaiting an initial appearance before a court commissioner.

In January 2010, a trooper assigned to the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation after locating a computer on the Internet that was offering pornographic videos of children for others to download. Troopers were able to trace the computer back to Szczepanik. Investigators executed a search warrant at Szczepanik’s Glen Burnie residence and confiscated computers, hard drives, and miscellaneous storage media. An analysis of the confiscated equipment was conducted revealing videos and images of children engaged in various stages of sexual activity.

In June 2009, a trooper assigned to the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation after locating a computer on the Internet that was offering pornographic videos of children for others to download. Troopers were able to trace the computer back to Coulter. Investigators executed a search warrant at Coulter’s Glen Burnie residence and confiscated computers, hard drives, and miscellaneous storage media. An analysis of the confiscated equipment was conducted revealing videos and images of children engaged in various stages of sexual activity.

The primary mission of the Maryland State Police 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.