MARYLAND INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE ARRESTS WASHINGTON CO. MAN ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

(HAGERSTOWN, MD) Members of the Maryland State Police, Computer Crimes Section, Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) have arrested and charged a Washington County man on child pornography related charges.

The suspect is identified as John D. Vogelsang, 33, from Washington County, Maryland. He was arrested yesterday without incident. Vogelsang was charged with three counts of distributing child pornography and 23 counts possession of child pornography.

Beginning last month, State Police computer crimes investigators conducted an investigation using the Internet that led to contact with an individual distributing child pornography from an address in Hagerstown, Md. Further investigation led to the identification of the suspect.

Investigators obtained a search warrant that was served at Vogelsang’s residence on May 19, 2015, by a Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigator with assistance from the Maryland State Police, Criminal Enforcement Division Western Region, agents from Homeland Security Investigations, and officers from the Hagerstown Police Department. Service of the search warrant resulted in the recovery of a computer and other related digital media that Vogelsang had in his possession that contained images of child pornography.

On May 21, 2015, at 11:00 p.m., Vogelsang was arrested by troopers from the Hagerstown Barrack. He was transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he is being held on a $150,000 bond.

The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is comprised of police agencies from around the state. Its primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The Task Force works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.