Child Porn Arrest Generic

SALISBURY, Md. - A Salisbury man identified in court documents as a Wicomico Middle School employee faces 43 charges involving child sexual abuse material following a Maryland State Police investigation.

Willie Bell, 46, is charged with multiple counts of possessing child pornography, accessing and viewing child pornography, and seven additional counts involving material depicting children younger than 13, according to charging documents filed Oct. 19 in Wicomico County District Court and obtained by WBOC.

The documents say Bell works at Wicomico Middle School for the Wicomico County Board of Education. Wicomico Middle School previously listed him online as a Food Service Worker.

According to the charging documents, the investigation began Aug. 2 when a trooper at the Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Dropbox had reported that a user possessed and uploaded suspected child sexual abuse material to an account.

Investigators say records obtained from Google, Comcast, and Dropbox linked the account to Bell and his home in Salisbury.

Police obtained a search warrant for the Dropbox account Aug. 26. During an Oct. 16 review of records returned by the company, a trooper identified 18 videos investigators described as child sexual abuse material, according to the documents.

Investigators also reported finding photographs of Bell in the account, including one they matched to his Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration photograph.

On Oct. 19, police searched Bell’s residence and recovered numerous electronic devices, along with paperwork addressed to him, according to the charging documents. An arrest warrant was issued that day.

According to online court records, Bell was released on Tuesday on a $100,000 unsecured personal bond. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for Nov. 19.

Wicomico County Public Schools sent WBOC the following statement in full on Wednesday:

 

Wicomico County Public Schools recently learned that Willie Bell, a contractual food service worker with WCPS, had been arrested on numerous charges, with none of the alleged offenses known to have occurred at any WCPS location. As soon as Wicomico County Public Schools learned of these charges, we took immediate steps to ensure the individual no longer has contact with students. 

We want to reassure you that the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.  Our school system is following established protocols, and because this is both a personnel matter and an active law enforcement investigation, we cannot provide further details at this time.

 

Digital Content Producer

Sean joined WBOC as Digital Content Producer in February 2023. Originally from New Jersey, Sean graduated from Rutgers University with bachelor’s degrees in East Asian Studies and Religion. He has lived in New York, California, and Virginia before he and his wife finally found a place to permanently call home in Maryland. With family in Laurel, Ocean Pines, Berlin, and Captain’s Cove, Sean has deep ties to the Eastern Shore and is thrilled to be working at WBOC serving the community.

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