Md- Maryland State Police investigators from the Maryland Internet Crimes Section, Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, arrested a Cecil County man early Wednesday morning on child pornography related charges.
Edward Tillinghast, 46, of the 100 block of Forest Lane, Chesapeake City. Tillinghast was arrested without incident and charged with manufacturing and possession of child pornography, sex offenses and sex abuse of a minor. The minor was rescued from further harm by troopers and is safe and secure with a legal guardian.
Earlier this month, investigators with the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information through a Cybertip, sent by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in reference to child pornography. As a result of the subsequent investigation, Tillinghast was identified as the suspect and a search warrant was served at Tillinghast’s residence shortly after 5:00 a.m. Wednesday by Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigators, state troopers from the North East barrack and agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
Execution of the search warrant resulted in the recovery of various digital media storage devices. Evidence will be submitted to the Maryland State Police Digital Forensics Lab for analysis.
Following a hearing Tillinghast was transported to the Cecil County Detention Center where he is being held on $750,000.00 bond.
