Wallingford Man Charged With Child Pornography Offenses: Feds

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford man faces two federal child pornography offenses, according to authorities. A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment this week charging Eric Rundstrom, 45, of Wallingford, with two counts of receipt and possession of child pornography, U.S. States Attorney for Connecticut John H. Durham and Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, announced Friday.

An FBI investigation found that Rundstrom had “accessed an online website to connect with others interested in collecting and sharing images and videos of child pornography, and he would exchange emails with others,” according to a news release.

“Investigators discovered a link to an online file hosting account associated with Rundstrom where hundreds of images and videos of child pornography had been stored, including images of adult males sexually abusing prepubescent females,” officials wrote in the release.

The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Rundstrom was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on Feb. 14 and is released on a $25,000 bond.

Durham stressed that an "indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

Officials said the prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.