Former San Bernardino County Resident Arrested in Alaska for Possession of Child Pornography—Law Enforcement Seeks Possible Local Victims

A former resident of Fort Irwin, California, who was charged federally in California with possession of child pornography, may have had illegal sexual contact with several children in the local area based on his broad access to children, according to agents assigned to the investigation. Law enforcement officials encourage anyone who believes their child may have been victimized to contact the FBI.

FBI agents in Fairbanks, Alaska arrested Joseph Scott Szymanski, 23, on Monday, June 14, 2010, after he was charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession of child pornography.

According to the complaint filed May 25, 2010, in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California, Szymanski was identified as an individual who allegedly possessed pornographic images of multiple children to whom he had access while living in Fort Irwin, California in 2008. Szymanski has since separated from the Army and has been living in Alaska.

Earlier this year, a digital memory card was found in a residence located on the Fort Irwin military base that contained photographs of minor boys in various stages of undress. Further forensic review of the digital media revealed multiple pornographic images of several minor boys. The photographs depict nude children and/or children engaged in various stages of sexual intercourse. Szymanski was known to babysit for the parents of minor children while stationed at Fort Irwin. Szymanski was identified as a suspect through furniture and other items seen in the various images, according to the complaint. Szymanski is known to have had involvement in various youth organizations in the past; to include scouting and religious organizations, where access to children would have been possible.

A federal grand jury in Riverside County, California, returned an indictment charging Szymanski with possession of child pornography on June 23, 2010.

Investigators in California believe that, based on his reported access to children while living at Fort Irwin, Szymanski may have victimized additional children not yet identified in this investigation. Anyone who believes Szymanksi may have victimized his or her child is urged to contact FBI Agent Jeffrey Stiff at 951-248-6582. A photograph of Szymanski is being released to the media.

The maximum statutory sentence for possession of child pornography is 10 years in prison.

This case is a continuing investigation being conducted by the Fort Irwin Military Police Department, the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division and the FBI’s Riverside Resident Agency. Agents assigned to the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office arrested Szymanski.

Szymanski was afforded an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Alaska and was remanded to federal custody pending removal to California to face prosecution.

This case will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.