A Hampden resident, Michael King, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison following a guilty plea for possessing child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann handed down the sentence, which includes an additional 10 years of supervised release and a restitution payment of $41,000. King admitted guilt on these charges on October 30, 2024.
The case details emerged from a November 2022 report by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The organization received a CyberTip from Bing, highlighting the upload of a sexually explicit image involving a minor. King was identified through his IP address, and a search warrant executed at his home in May 2023 led to the discovery of numerous images of child sexual abuse on a laptop recovered from his premises.
King's actions were confirmed through an interview with investigators from the Maine State Police and Homeland Security Investigations. This incident marks a repeat offense for King, as he was previously convicted on similar charges in 2017 by the Penobscot County Superior Court.
The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Homeland Security Investigations were integral to the investigation. The operation is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative established to address child exploitation and abuse.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Justice since May 2006, collaborates with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section to combat child exploitation.
Public reporting of child sexual abuse material can be made to the NCMEC at https://report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678. Additionally, Maine residents needing support for sexual assault or abuse can access a 24-hour helpline at 1-800-871-7741.