Clinton County Man Charged with Distributing Child Pornography
Steven Wade Bauman, 54, 452 Woodward Ave., Woodward Township, was taken into custody Wednesday following an online investigation.
Agents in the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section identified a computer on a peer-to-peer network sharing material believed to depict child pornography, and downloaded four files from a computer with an IP address allegedly assigned to Bauman. The files were reviewed by the agents, who reported they contained videos depicting child pornography.
A search warrant was obtained and served Wednesday at Bauman’s home. A preliminary search of a laptop and thumb drive revealed 27 images believed to depict child pornography. The devices will undergo further analysis as part of an ongoing investigation.
Bauman is charged with four counts of distribution of child pornography, 27 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. His bail was set at $50,000 at his preliminary arraignment before District Judge Joseph Sanders; he was remanded to the Clinton County Correctional Facility in default of bail. An initial court appearance was set for next Tuesday.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Woodward Township Police Department for its assistance in the investigation.
The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.
