Charles County Deputy Cops Child Porn Charges

Charles County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander C. Sullivan, 37, of King George, Virginia, is facing a federal child pornography charge after investigators allegedly found over 200 illicit images and five videos on his mobile phone. The arrest marks a stunning fall for a sworn law enforcement officer entrusted to uphold the law.

Sullivan was taken into custody late on November 21, 2016, following the unsealing of a federal criminal complaint in Greenbelt, Maryland. He is scheduled for an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Connelly at 3:00 p.m. in U.S. District Court. The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, HSI Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson, and Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry.

The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received four tips from a cloud security provider about suspected child pornography linked to a specific phone number in October and November 2016. A Charles County Sheriff’s officer traced the number to Sullivan—only to discover it belonged to a fellow deputy. At the time, Sullivan had recently moved from Indian Head, Maryland, to Virginia.

On November 17, 2016, authorities executed a state search warrant on Sullivan and his phone. A preliminary forensic review revealed more than 200 images and five videos depicting child pornography. The full digital forensic examination remains ongoing, with federal and local investigators combing through digital evidence for further proof.

If convicted, Sullivan faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Federal prosecutors Joseph R. Baldwin and Kristi N. O’Malley are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Rosenstein praised HSI Baltimore and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their swift action in uncovering the alleged crimes.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute offenders—and to rescue victims. Sullivan remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.