Great Falls, Montana: Former East Helena chief of police 43-year-old William Daly Harrington pleaded guilty to a charge that he distributed child pornography in 2020 according to a release posted today from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana.
According to the release, a tip was received in September 2020 by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force concerning a Facebook account that was said to be sharing potential images of child pornography.
Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that an account belonging to Harrington shared 11 images on December 17, 2019.
A search of Harrington's home in January of this year revealed images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone.
When sentenced Harrington faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Upon release, he may have between five years to life under supervision.
In Miami, Florida, another officer has been charged in federal court on a charge that he attempted to produce pornography of a 15-year-old boy.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida released the information concerning the charges on Monday, December 6 after the criminal complaint affidavit was unsealed.
According to the affidavit, officers received a tip on November 22 concerning communications between 30-year-old Juan Antonio Garcia of the Sweall's Point Police Department and a 15-year-old via text messages.
Garcia is accused of instructing the boy to send specific images and videos, and even arranged to meet the boy at a park on November 23. When Garcia arrived, he was arrested by local law enforcement.
Garcia has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending an investigation by the Sewall's Point Police Department.
A detention hearing has been scheduled for December 10, and Garcia's arraignment is scheduled for December 17. If convicted Garcia faces a possible sentence of 15-30 years in prison.