The State Police Computer Crimes Unit served a series of arrest warrants Thursday stemming from “several lengthy and thorough investigations,” state police said Friday, March 28. Michael Forthmuller, 38, of Travis Avenue in Stamford; David Dembosky, 37, of Hunyadi Avenue in Fairfield; and Tyler Czardo, 22, of Sixth Street in Danbury were among those charged, according to the press release.
State police officials declined to comment on the specifics of the investigations due to the nature of the cases. However, all three Fairfield County men were charged with possession of child pornography in the first degree, which by statute indicates that the accused had “50 or more visual depictions of child pornography.”
The three were also charged with promoting a minor in an obscene performance, which is levied in cases where the suspect did not have direct contact with the minors depicted, according to the Connecticut General Statutes.
Other suspects arrested Thursday included men from Meriden, Milford, East Haven, Stafford Springs, Columbia, Plainville, East Hartford, Wallingford, Manchester, East Lyme, Groton, Norwich, Colchester and Tolland. The 18 suspects were all charged with possession of child pornography and other offenses.
Forthmuller was held on $75,000 bond and was taken to Stamford Superior Court on Friday. Dembosky and Czardo were held on $50,000 bonds and are due in court on Monday, April 14.
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