“Glee” Actor Charged with Child Pornography Possession

One of the actors on the popular TV series “Glee” recently appeared in a federal court and pleaded not guilty to charges of child pornography possession.
Mark Salling has been accused of storing numerous images of illicit child pornography on his personal computer. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal investigators conducted a search of Salling’s laptop computer and other electronic devices like a hard drive and flash drive and found a massive collection of child pornography. The child pornography reportedly included videos and images that depicted underage children engaged in sexual acts.
Salling, a 33-year-old actor who is best known for playing Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the Fox TV musical “Glee,” was subsequently charged with two counts of possessing child pornography and two counts of receiving child pornography.
A federal grand jury recently indicted Salling on the very serious criminal charges, meaning that the case is now slated to head to trial.
Once Salling was indicted, federal prosecutors feared that the defendant would be a flight risk because he faces decades in prison. So prosecutors initially asked a federal judge to order that Salling be held without bail. Eventually, however, the prosecution and Salling reached an agreement and prosecutors recommended that Salling be allowed to post bail.
At a recent court hearing, the US Magistrate Judge issued a ruling that will allow Salling to remain free on bail while the criminal charges against him are pending. Salling’s bail amount was set at $150,000, with a requirement that he provide at least $100,000 of his own cash to ensure that he makes it to all future mandatory court appearances.
The terms and conditions of Salling’s release on bail include severe restrictions on his ability to use the Internet, as well as his freedom to travel domestically or internationally. For example, Salling will need to surrender his passport and he will be required to wear an electronic bracelet that monitors his location at all times. Additionally, Salling will need to receive approval from federal authorities if he wishes to use any devices that are connected to the Internet.
After the pre-trial hearing concluded, Salling exited the Los Angeles courthouse and declined to speak to reporters.
Salling will have to return to the U.S. District Court in July 2016 for a trial in the criminal case. Salling has already pleaded not guilty to the sex crime charges. If Salling is ultimately convicted of possessing child pornography, he could end up being sentenced to as many as 20 years behind bars in a federal penitentiary. It is also likely that Salling would be required to register as a sex offender if he is convicted.
To learn more about this case, access the Yahoo.com article, “‘Glee’ Star Salling Pleads Not Guilty in Child Porn Case.”
 
If you or a loved one has been accused of child pornography possession, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact or any other sex crime in New Jersey, the consequences could be severe. Depending on the circumstances, you may be looking at a lengthy prison sentence and lifetime sex offender registration requirements. The aggressive criminal defense attorneys at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A. can help you fight the charges and avoid the most severe penalties. Contact us now for a free consultation.