Federal officials say the purpose was to produce child pornography.
Baltimore, Md (KM) A former Cumberland man pleaded guilty on Monday in US District Court in Baltimore to sexually exploiting a child to produce child pornography. The U-S Attorney’s Office for Maryland says Jason Wayne Hines, 37, had more than 1,000 images and videos of child pornography on his computers, and cell phone which were confiscated during a search and seizure operation at his home last year.
Federal officials say Maryland State Troopers, acting undercover, downloaded two videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit behavior between January 29th and February 1st, 2016. They served a search warrant on Hines’ home on May 3rd, 2016, and recovered images and videos on his laptop computer with children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hines was arrested and charged with criminal offenses for distribution and possession of child pornography.
The US Attorney’s Office says forensic examination of Hines’ computers, storage media and cell phone which had been seized found more than 1,000 images and over 50 videos of child pornography. Investigators also found 23 images created between October 3rd, 2015 and February 28th, 2016, and five videos from his smartphone. The five videos, which did not have create dates, depicted Hines sexually abusing a very young girl while she was sleeping.
If the court accepts his plea agreement, Hines could be sentenced to between 17-and-a-half to 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 18th, 2017. He will also be required to register as sex offender wherever he lives, works or attends school.
By Kevin McManus