ANNAPOLIS — A jury convicted Christopher Willard Clendenin, 38, of Davidsonville, on seven counts of possession of child pornography May 28 in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.
Following the verdict, the Honorable Judge Sidney Butcher revoked Clendenin’s bond and ordered him held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center pending sentencing scheduled for July 27.
State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess commented, “Behind every offender possessing child sexual abuse material, there is a child victim that has been exploited and deeply harmed in the creation of these images. We will always stand with victims and ensure that those who prey on our young and vulnerable be held accountable in the court of law.”
The investigation began April 26, 2023, when Anne Arundel County Police detectives received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. NCMEC provided information about suspected child sexual abuse material uploaded to Reddit, along with a suspect name and IP address linked to Clendenin in Davidsonville.
Detectives obtained and served search warrants for Clendenin’s Reddit and Google Gmail accounts on May 8, 2023. Google’s response connected the account to the defendant. Investigators located both still images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material in the Gmail folders.
On August 24, 2023, members of the Child Abuse Unit executed a residential search warrant at the Davidsonville address. Clendenin was present and answered the door. During a brief interview, he acknowledged the Gmail account under investigation. Evidence was seized from the residence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Anastasia T. Prigge and Sean Fox. The investigation was led by Detective Jonathan Bruce of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Davidsonville is located in northern Anne Arundel County, near the border with Calvert County in Southern Maryland. Local law enforcement agencies in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties routinely collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions on cases involving child exploitation and internet crimes.
The conviction underscores the collaborative effort between local police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and prosecutors to combat the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Anne Arundel County authorities continue to encourage the public to report suspected online exploitation through the NCMEC CyberTipline.
Clendenin remains in custody at the Jennifer Road Detention Center without bond until his sentencing hearing on July 27.
