Ex-Baltimore County corrections worker facing federal child pornography charges
A former Baltimore County corrections employee now faces federal child pornography charges after police said a neighbor found him naked in bed with a 13-year-old in May.
Thomas Michael Mannion Jr., 45, of Parkville already was facing several rape charges from Baltimore County, but authorities charged him with six federal counts of production, distribution and possession of child pornography in a federal indictment filed Thursday.
Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said that while his office was reviewing its rape case against Mannion it realized there might be federal jurisdiction, “as a result of some things found on his computer.”
Shellenberger said the federal case will take priority and be prosecuted first, but there are currently no plans to drop the state’s charges against Mannion.
The federal indictment said Mannion had numerous photos and videos of juveniles on his computer. It also alleges he used Grindr, an online dating app, to share the explicit images with an underage boy.
No attorney is listed in federal court records as representing Mannion. Erik Atus, who is listed as Mannion’s attorney in the state case, didn’t respond Friday to a request for comment.
Baltimore County Police said that in May, a neighbor saw a juvenile enter the residence where Mannion rents a room.
The neighbor called the homeowner, who gave him permission to search the basement for the intruder, police wrote.
“Instead, the neighbor found Mannion naked in bed with the juvenile,” police wrote.
The man called police, and Mannion, who initially denied the accusation, was arrested, police wrote.
Investigators believe it was the second time Mannion had sex with the 13-yearold, police wrote. Charges against Mannion in court records indicate that the alleged offense took place months before his May arrest.
Baltimore County spokesman Sean Naron said Mannion was fired from Baltimore County corrections after he was charged. He is being held without bond at the Howard County Department of Corrections.