SKOWHEGAN — Skowhegan police arrested a local man Tuesday on six felony counts of possession of child pornography.
Police, along with agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and an investigator from the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, executed a search warrant about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at 166 Water St. in Skowhegan and arrested Philip Carlo, 33, on charges of illegal possession of sexually explicit material, according to interim police Chief Joel Cummings.
Carlo has a previous federal conviction for distribution of child pornography and obscene material, having served about 33 months in another jurisdiction, Cummings said. It was not known Wednesday where or when Carlo served his federal prison time.
Cummings said police acted on a tip that Carlo was viewing illegal material on multiple devices.
“The information was received from a person who actually saw Philip looking at what they believed was child pornography on his computer,” Cummings said. He said there were multiple images and videos, the total amount to be determined with a forensic examination by the State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
Carlo was taken to Somerset County Jail where he faces six class B felonies, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Cummings said that because of the scope of the current case and the history of Carlo’s previous conduct, the federal authorities were brought in.
He said the case could be “bumped up” to the federal level but will begin in local courts.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
Twitter:@Doug_Harlow
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