ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Davidsonville man was convicted Thursday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on seven counts of possessing child sexual abuse material after investigators traced a cybertip involving Reddit and Gmail accounts to him, prosecutors announced.
Christopher Willard Clendenin, 38, of Davidsonville, was found guilty May 28, 2026, after a jury trial before Judge Sidney Butcher.
Following the verdict, Butcher revoked Clendenin’s bond and ordered him held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center pending sentencing.
The investigation began April 26, 2023, when detectives with the Anne Arundel County Police Department received a cybertip for investigation. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided information involving suspected child sexual abuse material that had been uploaded to Reddit.
The cybertip included a suspect name and IP address that led investigators to Clendenin.
Detectives submitted a search-and-seizure warrant May 8, 2023, for the suspect’s Reddit and Google Gmail accounts. Judge Christine Celeste reviewed and approved the warrant, which was later served on Google and Reddit.
Google later responded to the search warrant, and the data connected an account linked to Clendenin. Detectives found still images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material in Gmail folders connected to the account.
Members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit served a residential search-and-seizure warrant Aug. 24, 2023. Clendenin was at the residence and answered the door, prosecutors reported.
During the search, investigators seized evidence and conducted a brief interview with Clendenin. When asked whether he recognized the Gmail account under investigation, Clendenin responded, “Yeah, that’s a couple emails back,” according to prosecutors.
State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess emphasized the harm caused by the creation and possession of child sexual abuse material.
“Behind every offender possessing child sexual abuse material, there is a child victim that has been exploited and deeply harmed in the creation of these images,” Leitess stated. “We will always stand with victims and ensure that those who prey on our young and vulnerable be held accountable in the court of law.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Anastasia T. Prigge and Sean Fox. The investigation was led by Detective Jonathan Bruce of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 27, 2026.
If sentenced consecutively on all seven counts, Clendenin could face up to 35 years of incarceration and up to $17,500 in fines, based on the maximum penalty for a first offense under Maryland law.
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