CLEMENTS, MD – Maryland State Police arrested 19-year-old Leonard Nelson Jr. of Clements on February 10, 2026, following an investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography.
Nelson faces two counts each of distribution and possession of child pornography, plus seven counts of accessing and viewing child pornography. Authorities transported him to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center, where he remains held without bond.
The case originated from a cybertip received in December 2025 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Maryland State Police investigators identified Nelson as the suspect through their probe into possession and viewing of child pornography.
On the morning of February 10, troopers from the Maryland State Police Child Exploitation Unit and Leonardtown Barrack, joined by federal law enforcement partners, executed a search warrant at Nelson’s residence in Clements. Nelson was interviewed at the scene and arrested without incident.
This arrest marks a second set of charges for Nelson related to child pornography. In March 2025, Maryland State Police previously arrested him and charged him with seven counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of distribution of child pornography. Nelson pleaded guilty to those charges in September 2025 and awaits sentencing.
The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit oversees the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies statewide. Funding supports this work through grants from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy and the U.S. Department of Justice. Task force members concentrate on detecting individuals engaged in child pornography over the internet and other offenses that target children.
Investigations like this highlight ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation in Southern Maryland communities, including St. Mary’s County. The involvement of federal partners and NCMEC underscores the multi-jurisdictional approach often required in these cases. No additional details on evidence recovered during the search or specific allegations beyond the charges were released in the announcement.
Authorities urge anyone with information on child exploitation to report it to NCMEC via their CyberTipline or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST. Immediate danger to a child warrants a call to 9-1-1 or local police.