Cecil Co. Man Arrested On Child Pornography Charges

(PERRYVILLE, MD) – Maryland State Police computer crimes investigators have arrested and charged a Cecil County man with the possession and distribution of child pornography.

The suspect is identified as Eric McBride 19, of Perryville, Md. He is charged with five counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of distribution of child pornography. Subsequent to his arrest, McBride was transported to the Cecil County Central Booking Center for processing and to await an initial appearance before a court commissioner.

Earlier this year, a member of the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit was conducting an on-line investigation involving the distribution and possession of child pornography after receiving multiple tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tips revealed child pornography was being uploaded to a social media site.

Further investigation revealed the downloaded child pornography was distributed from a specific Internet address which led to a specific residential address where the IP address is assigned. Troopers obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s residence and served the warrant at 5:30 a.m. this morning.

The search and seizure warrant was executed at McBride’s residence this morning at 5:30 a.m. by the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit and agents from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and officers from the Perryville Police Department. A preliminary forensic review of the suspect’s electronic devices indicated it held multiple images and/or video files of child pornography. The suspect was subsequently identified and arrested.

The investigation is continuing.