A military employee who resided in Maryland before moving to
Japan in November 2017 has been arrested and indicted for the production,
transportation, and possession of child pornography.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the
Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen M.
Schenning of the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B.
Johnson of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office made the announcement.
Spencer E. Steckman, 34, who lived in Silver Spring,
Maryland at the time the alleged conduct began, was charged in an indictment on
March 26, with one count of production of child pornography, one count of
transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child
pornography. Steckman had his initial
court appearance earlier today and was remanded into the custody of the U.S.
Marshals Service.
According to the indictment, between Aug. 17, 2017, and
Sept. 22, 2017, while in Maryland, Steckman enticed a minor to engage in
sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. In mid-November 2017, Steckman moved to Japan
to work with Commander Navy Region Japan.
In Japan, Steckman transported and possessed child pornography.
Steckman was detained by the Naval Criminal Investigative
Service (NCIS) in Japan on March 27, and transported back to Maryland by the
U.S. Marshals Service on April 1, to appear before the U.S. District Court for
the District of Maryland.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are
merely accusations. The defendant is
presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of
law.
The FBI’s Baltimore Field Division and the Maricopa County,
Arizona, Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case, with substantial
assistance from NCIS. Trial Attorney
Jessica Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity
Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin of the District of Maryland
are prosecuting the case.
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