TOWSON, Md. (AP) - A corporal for a Maryland university’s police department has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography, according to authorities.
Towson University Cpl. Peter Publico surrendered to authorities Monday on two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography, Baltimore County Police said in a statement.
Authorities began investigating the 53-year-old in February after Facebook reported an account allegedly belonging to Publico to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to charging documents obtained by The Baltimore Sun.
Publico was accused of sending videos depicting child pornography through Facebook Messenger.
Towson University said none of the alleged crimes were committed on university property. Publico was suspended without pay, banned from campus and his law enforcement duties were revoked, the university said in a statement obtained by news outlets.
Publico denied wrongdoing when told he committed a felony, The Sun reported, citing a statement of charges.
He was set to appear in court for a bail hearing Tuesday. It was unclear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
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