Jared Michael Lemon, 43, of Owings
UPDATE 5/13/2024: Jared Michael Lemon, 43, of Owings, was convicted on Friday, May 10, 2024, of five counts of unlawful possession of child pornography. The conviction followed a trial in Calvert County Circuit Court before the Honorable Mark S. Chandlee.
In late 2022, an acquaintance of Lemon’s found disturbing images on Lemon’s cell phone. She reported it to the police and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of the Maryland State Police obtained a search warrant for Lemon’s electronic devices. A forensic exam of these devices revealed 59 images of children under the age of 16 engaged in sexual conduct. Lemon was charged in connection with 5 of the images.
Sentencing is set for July 29, 2024. Lemon is facing up to 25 years in prison and a $12,500 fine.
At the time of the offense, Lemon was an active-duty officer of the U.S. Capitol Police Department. Following the indictment in this case, Lemon was suspended. Further action is pending by the Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca N. Cordero.
7/11/2023: Maryland State Police computer crimes investigators have charged a Calvert County man with the possession of child pornography.
The suspect is identified as Jared Michael Lemon, 42, of Owings, Maryland. He is charged with five counts of possession of child pornography. He was arrested by Maryland State Police on Monday morning, July 10, 2023, without incident and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined he is employed as an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police Department.
The investigation began in December 2022 when troopers from the Maryland State Police Prince Frederick Barrack initiated an investigation into the possession of child pornography.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force also received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online user, later identified as Lemon, had uploaded suspected child pornography. Members of the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit, with assistance from troopers from the Prince Frederick Barrack and Homeland Security Investigations served a search warrant of Lemon’s residence in December 2022.
Investigators subsequently seized electronic devices for forensic analysis. The analysis revealed evidence of possession of child pornography.
The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This is a combined law enforcement effort involving police departments across Maryland that is made possible in part due to grant funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services and by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Task Force investigators focus on identifying those involved in child pornography via the Internet and other related crimes that victimize children.
