36°
Silver Spring resident Joseph Ruben Baer pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges following his arrest during a lengthy investigation that found he distributed video files depicting the sexual exploitation of underage boys through a social media app.
According to prosecutors, early this year, a member of the FBI–Metropolitan Police Department Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force was monitoring an app in an undercover capacity after learning it had been used by some "who have a sexual interest in children."
The undercover agent got in touch with Baer, who sent a message believing he was communicating with a pedophile, they said.
Officials said that Baer then expressed an interest in the sexual exploitation of prepubescent boys and later sent the undercover agent two videos through the app.
Those files, prosecutors say, depicted Baer masturbating while watching child pornography on a laptop computer.
In late April, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Baer with one count of distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty on Monday, June 24, authorities announced.
Baer has been detained since his arrest in May.
He faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and must pay a mandatory $3,000 in restitution to any victim that comes forward. Baer is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Annapolis and receive free news updates.
