Registered Sex Offender Faces Child Pornography Charges

EDGEWATER, MD — An Edgewater sex offender was charged Friday with child pornography after a nearly year-long investigation. On Jan. 25, the Anne Arundel County Child Abuse Unit received a tip that someone was uploading child pornographic images to an online site. The report came from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a non-profit group that works to find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent child victimization.

As the result of executing several court orders, detectives identified an address they believed was involved with uploading the child pornography. On June 3, detectives executed a search warrant in the 4000 block of Kings Road in Edgewater. Numerous digital devices were seized for forensic analysis. Police talked to Robert Patrick Schmitt, 27, from the 4000 block of Kings Road, and learned he is registered in Maryland as a tier one sex offender.

Detectives reportedly found evidence of child pornography on the devices taken during the search and obtained an arrest warrant for Schmitt charging him with two counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. On Nov. 8, Schmitt was arrested without incident at his residence.

Anne Arundel County Police ask anyone with information about Schmitt or child pornography to contact investigators at 410-222-4733. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the Anne Arundel County Tip Line at 410-222-4700.