Actor Mark Wayne Salling, best-known for his role as Puck in Glee will face a charge of receiving and possessing child pornography on his laptop computer and a flash memory drive.
A press release from The Department of Justice in California confirmed the news earlier this week.
“Those who download and possess child pornography create a market that causes more children to be harmed,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Young victims are harmed every time an image is generated, every time it is distributed, and every time it is viewed.”
The formal charge alleges that Salling used the Internet to receive a still image and a video depicting child pornography on December 26, 2015. These images depict young girls.
The second count in the indictment charges Salling with possessing two videos depicting child pornography on December 29, 2015. The image and video also depict young girls.
“The traditional stereotype about the kinds of people who commit child sexual exploitation crimes simply doesn’t dovetail with reality. As our investigators can attest, the defendants in child pornography cases come in all ages and from all walks of life,” said Joseph Macias, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Los Angeles.
“While people are often surprised when high-profile individuals come under scrutiny in such investigations, we hope cases like this will raise awareness about law enforcement’s vigilance to combat the online sexual exploitation of children and hold those involved, regardless of their position, accountable for their actions.”
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, if you hurt a child you will be held accountable,” said Lt. Andrea Grossman, Commander of the LAPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. “These images are more than photographs, they are child abuse.”
The news that Salling was being investigated first broke in December 2015. It is believed that is girlfriend tipped off the authorities.
The charge of receiving child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.
Salling will face the authorities on June 3.
