Mark Salling child pornography: “Glee” actor ready to surrender to federal authorities; Case compared to ‘child abuse’

“Glee” actor Mark Salling was taken into custody on Friday for receiving and possessing child pornography material. As per federal officials, the US actor downloaded child pornography videos on his Apple laptop and flash memory drive. Salling, 33, was named in a two-count indictment and he is expected to surrender and be arraigned on the charges on June 3. The material was seized from his Los Angeles home in December 2015.

According to LA Times, Salling received a pornographic video and at least one illicit image of young girls via the Web on Dec. 26, 2015. As per the U.S. District Court indictment, he was in possession of a 16GB USB flash drive on Dec. 29 that contained two videos showing girls who were younger than 12. Salling is facing a maximum of 20 years on charges of receiving child pornography and another 20 years for possessing child pornography, if convicted.

Officials said that Salling is ready to surrender to federal authorities to face the charges in the indictment. He was initially arrested by police but released on US$20,000 (AU$27,900) bail. Detectives with the LAPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force found countless videos and images of child pornography when they visited Salling’s home in the 9900 block of Helen Avenue in Shadow Hills in December.

The case was transferred to federal authorities after local investigators realised the size of the pornographic material the actor was possessing. Salling is expected to be arraigned on the charges the same day. The judge will finalise if he can get bail or not.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, if you hurt a child you will be held accountable. These images are more than photographs, they are child abuse,” said Lt. Andrea Grossman of the LAPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.