8 Child Pornography Charges Filed Against Howard County Man

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A 55-year-old Jessup man has been charged with five counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of distribution of child pornography.

Troopers arrested Paulo Sousa Lacerda early Tuesday morning after a Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Investigation developed evidence of distribution and possession of child pornography. He was taken to the Howard County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

Beginning in August 2021, the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit began an investigation into the distribution and possession of child pornography online.

Tuesday morning, Maryland State Police, assisted by Homeland Security Investigations, Howard County Police and members of the FBI’s Baltimore Child Exploitation Task Force, served a search warrant at Sousa Lacerda's residence. A preliminary forensic review of the suspect’s electronic devices revealed multiple child pornography files.

Sousa Lacerda was arrested at the scene.