BALTIMORE, Md. – A former Baltimore police officer is headed to prison after admitting to possessing child pornography.
While serving on the police force, James Robert Wissmann, IV, 35,actively collected child pornography for at least two years.
As part of a plea deal, Wissman admitted using fake names and fake e-mail addresses to join an app that allowed him to message, video chat, watch videos and images, and share files. He used those accounts to send and receive files of child pornography and to discuss the sexual exploitation of children. When the app shut down his accounts for sharing child pornography, he created new ones. The company reported him to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on five separate occasions.
Wissman also attempted to conceal his identity by using a virtual private network, private browsing, and by deleting his files. However, law enforcement was still able to track him down.
Back in July of last year, investigators executed a search warrant at Wissmann’s residence and seized Wissmann’s laptop computer, removable digital media, and mobile phones, which he used to commit the offense. During a forensic examination of the seized items, investigators found images and videos of child pornography on Wissmann’s laptop, including images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. After the search, Wissman resigned from the police force.
A judge sentenced Wissman to 78 months in federal prison followed by 25 years of supervised release.