A federal grand jury has indicted William Foster Alger, 75, of Hagerstown, on multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors and the production of child sexual abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland.
Alger faces seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child, three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and five counts of producing child sexual abuse material.
The indictment alleges that between November 2023 and December 2024, Alger persuaded, coerced, and induced three minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct to create and distribute child sexual abuse material. He is also accused of possessing such material on an internet-based account and four digital devices.
If convicted, Alger faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of child exploitation. The coercion and enticement charges carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years, with a maximum sentence of life in prison. Additionally, each count of possession of child sexual abuse material could result in a 20-year federal sentence. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the final sentencing based on federal guidelines.
The case originated on November 1, 2024, when employees at a Boost Mobile store on Maryland Avenue in Hagerstown noticed explicit images of young girls on a customer’s phone while performing repairs. They immediately alerted the police.
Hagerstown detectives later identified the customer as Alger and discovered his potential foreign connections. Authorities believe the images were taken in Ecuador, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to assist in the investigation. A search of Alger’s residence on Virginia Avenue uncovered multiple electronic devices containing illicit material.
Due to the international scope of the case, the U.S. Department of Justice took over the prosecution, leading to Alger’s federal indictment. He is currently in custody.
