A South Portland resident, Sheldon Rembert, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. District Court to possessing child sexual abuse material. The plea follows an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which executed a federal search warrant at Rembert's residence in April 2023.
During the search, agents found Rembert in his bedroom and recovered a smartphone. In an interview with authorities, Rembert admitted that the device contained child sexual abuse material, which he had downloaded. A forensic examination confirmed the presence of images and videos depicting children as young as eight years old being sexually abused.
Rembert's legal troubles are not new; he was previously convicted in 2020 by Cumberland County Superior Court for possessing explicit material involving minors. For his current offense, Rembert faces a potential prison sentence ranging from 10 to 20 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. He could also face supervised release for five years to life following any prison term. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This program coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to apprehend individuals who exploit children online and rescue victims.
To report incidents related to child sexual abuse material or seek help for sexual assault or abuse in Maine, individuals can contact relevant helplines provided by organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.