St. Clair Shores Man Charged With Child Porn to Remain Jailed

A 27-year-old St. Clair Shores man charged with possessing, distributing and receiving child pornography will remain jailed after he waived his detention hearing Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

Shawn Reginaldo, who is alleged to have possessed more than 100 child pornography photos in addition to abusive and graphic stories, said very little during his hearing before Executive Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen.

At the beginning of the proceedings Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Roth informed the judge that Reginaldo would be waiving the hearing.

"The defendant will consent to detention," Roth said.

Reginaldo, who was wearing a yellow jumpsuit issued by the Wayne County Jail, and his attorney Stephen Rabaut agreed that he would continue to be detained.

He will return to court May 11 for a preliminary exam on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. Follow the proceedings, Rabaut and a female family member who was seated in the court declined to comment.

According to court documents, federal officials had been investigating Reginaldo for nearly 13 months. Police initially identified him after arresting a minor in Topeka, Kansas, for distributing child pornography and linked him to viewing and posting images in the online photo album linked to the minor.

Reginaldo is alleged to have posted pornographic and erotic photos in the online group. When investigators searched his home on the north side of St. Clair Shores, they discovered:

• Reginaldo had been involved in the "viewing, distribution, and collecting of child pornography" for nearly 13 years, according to court documents.
• Printed out and saved numerous photographs of child pornography.
• A black leather whip, Lego sets and collection of young boy underwear.
• That he met under-aged boys in chat rooms and convinced them to engage in sex acts on a web camera.
• He had taken photos of prepubescent boys with their shirts off and were riding bikes in front of his house.
• He admitted to taking photographs of his 11-year-old relative who had his shirt off and was sleeping.
• Reginaldo also admitted that he "fantasizes about raping and assaulting children," according to court documents.

If convicted, Reginaldo could face up to 40 years in prison.