A Maryland man who was a co-leader of a Girl Scouts troop was arrested and charged with the possession of child pornography, The Evening Sun reported.
Stacy Mizrahi, 45, of Ellicott City, faces four counts of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography, according to a Maryland State Police report.
Maryland State Police began investigating in August, when their Computer Crimes Unit found child porn being distributed from a Maryland residence, WJZ reported. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Mizrahi's home, and a preliminary forensic review found multiple images and/or videos of child pornography on a computer, The Evening Sun reported.
Mizrahi was a volunteer co-leader for Girl Scouts Troop 715 in Howard County, Maryland, according to the Maryland State Police release.
In a statement, Violet M. Apple, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, said Mizrahi has been suspended from the troop.
"It is our No. 1 priority to ensure all GSCM members are safe," Apple said. "All GSCM employees and volunteers are required to pass a background check, and Mr. Mizrahi passed his when he registered as a troop leader.
“It is GSCM policy that male volunteers are not permitted to meet with girls without the presence of a female co-leader," Apple said. "Mr. Mizrahi served as a co-leader with an unrelated female and the troop was supported by four additional volunteers – all of whom passed background checks prior to registering as a volunteer.”
Police have not found any evidence at this time that any crimes have been committed involving the children he had contact with, The Evening Sun reported.
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