Delaware News

Child Predator Task Force investigation leads to arrest of Smyrna man

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, August 2, 2010



Child Predator Task Force investigation leads to arrest of Smyrna man

Dover – Attorney General Beau Biden joined state and local police at the Delaware Child Predator
Task Force today to announce the arrest of Smyrna resident and registered sex offender Stephen W.
Carman on child pornography charges following an investigation initiated by the Task Force into the
possession of child sexual exploitation images on the internet.

“Investigations just like this are why we worked to form the Child Predator Task Force shortly
after I took office,” Attorney General Biden stated. “I’m very proud that prosecutors and police
worked together so effectively to make an arrest in this case and are working hard every day to make
children safer in Delaware.”

On Tuesday, July 27, 2010, the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, including officers from
the Delaware Department of Justice, Delaware State Police, and Smyrna Police Department, and
agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a search warrant at
Carman’s residence, at 432 Smyrna Clayton Blvd., Smyrna. Two computers and other digital evidence
were seized, as well as fireworks and a small amount of marijuana. Carman, age 54, was immediately
arrested for the possession of fireworks and marijuana and released on unsecured bond.
The initial forensic analysis of the computers and digital evidence revealed more than 50
images of child pornography, including images of young children being sexually assaulted by adult
males. As a result, Carman was arrested at his residence on July 28 by Smyrna Police and was charged
with 29 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography. He was arraigned in J.P. Court 8 and was committed
to James T. Vaughn Correction Center in default of $141,000 secured bond.
While Carman was being processed at Smyrna Police headquarters on July 28, Carman made a
phone call that led the Task Force to believe that additional evidence was hidden at his residence.
Based on that information, the Child Predator Task Force executed an additional search warrant on the
evening of July 28 at Carman’s residence and seized additional digital media, including a flash drive
secured by duct tape underneath the kitchen sink.

An initial forensic examination of the evidence seized on July 28 revealed more than 3,200
images of child pornography, including images and videos of young females being sexually assaulted
by adult males. As a result, Carman was rearrested on July 29 and charged with an additional 27
counts of Dealing in Child Pornography, as well as attempting to destroy physical evidence and
criminal solicitation. He was arraigned in J.P. Court 2 via video phone from James T. Vaughn
Correction Center and bond set at $545,000 cash on these additional charges.
The investigation continues.
# # #

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Child Predator Task Force investigation leads to arrest of Smyrna man

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, August 2, 2010



Child Predator Task Force investigation leads to arrest of Smyrna man

Dover – Attorney General Beau Biden joined state and local police at the Delaware Child Predator
Task Force today to announce the arrest of Smyrna resident and registered sex offender Stephen W.
Carman on child pornography charges following an investigation initiated by the Task Force into the
possession of child sexual exploitation images on the internet.

“Investigations just like this are why we worked to form the Child Predator Task Force shortly
after I took office,” Attorney General Biden stated. “I’m very proud that prosecutors and police
worked together so effectively to make an arrest in this case and are working hard every day to make
children safer in Delaware.”

On Tuesday, July 27, 2010, the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, including officers from
the Delaware Department of Justice, Delaware State Police, and Smyrna Police Department, and
agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a search warrant at
Carman’s residence, at 432 Smyrna Clayton Blvd., Smyrna. Two computers and other digital evidence
were seized, as well as fireworks and a small amount of marijuana. Carman, age 54, was immediately
arrested for the possession of fireworks and marijuana and released on unsecured bond.
The initial forensic analysis of the computers and digital evidence revealed more than 50
images of child pornography, including images of young children being sexually assaulted by adult
males. As a result, Carman was arrested at his residence on July 28 by Smyrna Police and was charged
with 29 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography. He was arraigned in J.P. Court 8 and was committed
to James T. Vaughn Correction Center in default of $141,000 secured bond.
While Carman was being processed at Smyrna Police headquarters on July 28, Carman made a
phone call that led the Task Force to believe that additional evidence was hidden at his residence.
Based on that information, the Child Predator Task Force executed an additional search warrant on the
evening of July 28 at Carman’s residence and seized additional digital media, including a flash drive
secured by duct tape underneath the kitchen sink.

An initial forensic examination of the evidence seized on July 28 revealed more than 3,200
images of child pornography, including images and videos of young females being sexually assaulted
by adult males. As a result, Carman was rearrested on July 29 and charged with an additional 27
counts of Dealing in Child Pornography, as well as attempting to destroy physical evidence and
criminal solicitation. He was arraigned in J.P. Court 2 via video phone from James T. Vaughn
Correction Center and bond set at $545,000 cash on these additional charges.
The investigation continues.
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.