-
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER)
An investigation by the Olney Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies, led to the arrest of a Graham man last week on multiple felony child pornography charges.
Warrants were issued late Wednesday, Nov. 26 for William Michael Bahl II, 54, who was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 27 at his workplace in Olney.
Bahl is facing charges of two counts of possession of child pornography greater than or equal to 50 or more visual depictions of a child, or video or film that visually depicts the conduct, a first degree felony. Additionally, he is facing charges of possession of child pornography of a child younger than 10 years of age and possession with intent to promote child pornography, both second degree felonies.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip Thursday, Aug. 22 reported by Kik messenger. The platform reported that the user “mikethemechanic70” sent four videos of child pornography to another Kik user.
NCMEC received another cybertip Monday, Oct. 14 reported by Kik messenger, this time associated with the user “mikethemechanic0122.” The platform stated the user sent four videos of “child pornography/and or beastiality” to another Kik user.
The cybertips were reviewed Wednesday, Oct. 16 by the OPD Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Both Kik usernames tied back to the same email address and were identified to belong to Bahl by linking the IP address used to upload the child pornography with the MAC address of his cell phone.
A search warrant was obtained Tuesday, Nov. 12 for all electronic devices belonging to Bahl. OPD, along with Graham Police Department, served the warrant at his residence the same day.
Bahl answered the door and, after confirming his identity, was asked if he had his cell phone. After telling the officers he did not have his phone, a search revealed the cell phone in his back pocket.
OPD Chief Dan Birbeck explained the search warrant involved crimes against children and Bahl asked “who had turned him in.”
The officers seized various electronics from the residence, including his cell phone which officers received a warrant to search the digital contents of Wednesday, Nov. 13.
The Irving Police Department assisted OPD with the forensic examination of the cell phone Friday, Nov. 18, and the cell phone was returned Saturday, Nov. 26 to OPD. A search of the data received from the phone revealed multiple videos and images of child pornography.
The videos and images depicted multiple sexual acts between children and adults. One image was uploaded at 5:32 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 by Bahl using the Kik messenger application.
Bahl’s total bond was set at $600,000 on the four charges and he was released the next day Thursday, Nov. 28 from the Young County Jail.
