Edgewater Predator Eikenberg Admits to Child Porn Obsession

BALTIMORE, MD – William Carl Eikenberg, Jr., a 51-year-old resident of Edgewater, Maryland, has confessed to a sickening obsession: accessing child pornography. Eikenberg pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing and knowingly accessing the vile content, adding another layer to a disturbing criminal history.

The announcement of the guilty plea came from United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, alongside Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad. This isn’t Eikenberg’s first rodeo. In August 2016, he already copped a plea for distributing child pornography in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. He served 114 days in jail, endured five years of supervised probation, and was forced to register as a sex offender. Apparently, that wasn’t enough of a deterrent.

According to court documents, between April and September 2017, Eikenberg used the BitTorrent network – a notorious haven for illegal file sharing – through his cell phone to download and trade horrific images and videos. Investigators discovered at least 94 video files and 80 images depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors. Eikenberg admitted he knew the material showed children engaged in sexual activity. On July 3rd and September 3rd, 2017, Anne Arundel County Police detectives traced the distribution of these files back to Eikenberg’s IP address.

The investigation took a turn when authorities discovered Eikenberg had skipped out on sex offender treatment and fled probation supervision. On September 22, 2017, when officers and his probation officer attempted a routine home visit, Eikenberg bolted out the back door, attempting to evade capture. He was quickly apprehended and taken into custody, later confessing to his continued use of BitTorrent to view child pornography. The man’s a repeat offender and a clear danger to children.

Under the plea agreement, Eikenberg is facing a hefty 10-year federal prison sentence. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2022, at 11 a.m. This case is part of “Project Safe Childhood,” a nationwide initiative dedicated to combating the exploitation and abuse of children. It’s a grim reminder of the dark corners of the internet and the predators lurking within.

U.S. Attorney Barron commended the tireless work of the FBI, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Maryland State Police, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Maddox and Abigail E. Ticse are prosecuting the federal case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant. For information on internet safety resources, visit www.justice.gov/psc.