FREDERICK, Md. — The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a local man in connection with a child pornography investigation that originated from a cybertip provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation led authorities to 31-year-old Ricardo Hernandez-Martinez of Frederick, who now faces multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, detectives launched the investigation after receiving the cybertip indicating that illicit content had been uploaded to a social media platform. Through extensive digital forensics and analysis, investigators were able to trace the material back to Hernandez-Martinez. On Monday, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at a residence in the 500 block of Logan Street in Frederick, where Hernandez-Martinez was taken into custody without incident.
During the search, investigators seized several electronic devices believed to contain evidence related to the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. Hernandez-Martinez has been charged with multiple counts, including the distribution and possession of child pornography, and with soliciting and permitting a child to be involved in sexually explicit content.
He was transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, where he is currently being held without bond. In addition to the local charges, officials confirmed that a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer has been placed on Hernandez-Martinez through ICE’s 287(g) program. This means that after local proceedings are complete, he will be transferred to federal custody for potential immigration-related action.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and urge anyone with additional information related to the case to contact the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. The department emphasized its ongoing commitment to protecting children and ensuring that individuals involved in child exploitation are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
