Lewiston man pleads guilty to charges related to child sexual abuse material

A Lewiston man, Harold Clayton III, pleaded guilty on March 26 to charges of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material in U.S. District Court, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. His charges followed an investigation conducted by the Lewiston police in collaboration with the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, which executed a search warrant in September 2022.

The investigation began after receiving two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which led authorities to trace the identified number back to Clayton. Upon searching his cell phone and laptop, police found disturbing images and videos depicting children, including toddlers, being sexually abused.

In addition to the graphic material, law enforcement discovered communications on Clayton's cell phone that indicated he had distributed these abusive images and videos. The severity of his actions reflects a significant breach of child safety and legality.

Clayton faces a potential prison sentence ranging from 5 to 20 years for distribution and up to 10 years for possession, with fines that could amount to $250,000 for each charge. Prior to sentencing, the U.S. Probation Office will conduct a presentence investigative report.

The case was further supported by Homeland Security Investigations, demonstrating the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat child exploitation crimes.