George Luton, Sexual Exploitation, Maryland 2024 · Pennsylvania
Man Whose Name is Withheld, Child Sexual Exploitation, D.C. 2023 · Washington
Christopher David Johnston, Attempted Child Sex Exploitation, WA 2023 · Washington
Summer Nichole McCroskey, Child Exploitation, Maryland 2024 · Maryland
George Luton, Sexual Exploitation, Pennsylvania 2024 · Pennsylvania

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Former Detective Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges in Maryland
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Former Detective Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges in Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland – Ryan Christopher Hall, 50, of Woodstock, Maryland, pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material charges in federal court.

According to court documents, from May 2017 through October 2024, Hall sexually abused two minor children. Authorities discovered that Hall installed cameras to produce child sexual abuse material and possessed child sexual abuse material.

Hall is a former domestic violence detective who served 27 years with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years, and a maximum sentence of 30 years, in federal prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a child.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson scheduled sentencing for Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 2 p.m. Hall will also be subject to lifetime supervised release and lifetime registration as a sex offender.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended HSI, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit for their combined effort and work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

Learn more about Project Safe Childhood and Internet safety education by visiting www.justice.gov/psc and www.dhs.gov/know2protect.