News Release, Maryland State Police
(DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD) – A Prince George’s County man was arrested and charged today after a Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation developed evidence supporting charges of distribution and possession of child pornography.
The suspect is identified as James Garrison, 51, of District Heights, Maryland. He is charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography and seven counts of possession of child pornography. Garrison was arrested at his residence without incident and taken to the Maryland State Police Forestville Barrack for processing.
In March 2019, Troopers from the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an online investigation involving the distribution and possession of child pornography. Investigators obtained media files of child pornography that were being distributed online. Further investigation led to the identification of the suspect and his residence in Prince George’s County.
At about 5:10 a.m. today, the Maryland State Police served a search warrant at the identified residence. During the serving of the warrant, a preliminary forensic review of Garrison’s electronic devices revealed multiple child pornography files. The devices were seized and will be analyzed by the Maryland State Police Digital Forensics Laboratory. Garrison was arrested without incident. The Prince George’s County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations assisted in this investigation.
The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This is a combined law enforcement effort involving police departments across Maryland that is made possible in part due to grant funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) and by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Task force investigators focus on identifying those involved in child pornography via the Internet and other related crimes that victimize children.