Internet child pornography probe leads police to arrest Houlton man

HOULTON, Maine — Evidence collected by an Illinois police detective working to infiltrate an online child pornography network has implicated a local man found to be possessing and distributing illegal files of minors engaged in sexual acts.
    David Russell, 57, was arrested at 3 p.m. on Dec. 14 at his 92 Bangor Street apartment by Detective Kris Calaman of the Houlton Police Department and charged with dissemination of sexually explicit materials, a Class B felony, and possession of sexually explicit materials, a Class C felony. In both charges, the state has alleged that the images depicted a minor or minors that were less than 12 years of age.
Russell was transported to the Aroostook County Jail where bail was set at $50,000 surety or $10,000 cash. Russell’s conditions of release are as follows: no possession of Internet-ready electronic devices; he must submit to search and testing of any Internet-ready electronic devices without probable cause; and he is to have no contact with any children under age 18.
As of yesterday, Russell remained in custody according to Sgt. Raymond of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department.
According to information provided by the Houlton Police Department, the HPD was contacted Nov. 25 by Detective Andrew Uhlir of the Wheaton, Ill. PD in regard to Russell’s alleged involvement in the possession and dissemination of child pornography via the Internet. A member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Detective Uhlir was conducting an undercover investigation into online crimes against children. Specifically, Detective Uhlir was investigating unlawful possession/distribution of child pornography through peer to peer (P2P) networks.
Using a ficticious computer profile, Detective Uhlir was granted permission to browse the files of a person identified as “russdave” who was using a P2P program called Gigitribe that allows users to create profiles, post blog entries and chat with one another. The user decides who will be allowed in their private network.
In this case the user, identified as “russdave”, allowed Detective Uhlir access to his network. Once there, the agent identified files that were available for download. He was able to view and download a large amount of images and videos which had titles indicative of child pornography. Upon viewing the files, Detective Uhlir observed that they in fact showed images of children engaged in sexual activity with adults. Other images in the file depicted children posing in lewd positions.
Through his IP address, Detective Uhlir was able to identify “russdave” as a David Russell of 92 Bangor Street, Apt. 3 in Houlton. Detective Uhlir submitted his findings to Detective Calaman for further followup. Calaman contacted the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit for assistance and Special Agent Michael McFadden was assigned to the case.
On Nov. 30, Calaman and McFadden executed a search warrant at Russell’s residence. A Dell computer, 18 CD/DVD’s and an external hard drive were confiscated, taken outside and briefly examined inside the computer crimes mobile unit. Upon examination, the aforementioned items were found to contain a large amount of child pornography.
Also seized were two cameras. Russell’s smart phone was examined in the apartment and found not to contain child pornography.
No arrest was made at that time due to the fact the investigation wasn’t completed. Detective Calaman obtained an arrest warrant for Russell on the morning of Dec. 14 and it was executed later that day.
The investigating officers found no evidence that Russell was viewing or disseminating child pornography other than at his residence. No images or videos of local children were identified during the initial investigation.
Russell, represented by Jeffrey Pickering Esq. of Houlton, made his initial appearance at the Aroostook County Superior Court in Houlton before Justice E. Allen Hunter on Dec. 16 and was advised of the state’s contentions and that no plea would be taken until an indictment is returned by the grand jury. Russell’s bail was not changed by Justice Hunter.
Assistant District Attorney Kurt Kafferlin said yesterday the case has been set ahead for status conference on March 21, 2012 at which time Russell would be arraigned if a grand jury indictment has been returned by that date.
Russell had been employed as an advertising sales representative at the Houlton Pioneer Times. He resigned from the position effective Dec. 2.