A 28-year-old Chesapeake Beach man is facing Virginia state felony charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered child sexual abuse material and bestiality material on his cellular phone during a secondary examination at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Matthew Hunter Stewart was arrested Sunday by Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Police on one count of possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography and one count of possession of bestiality. He was taken into custody after arriving on a flight from Keflavik, Iceland.
According to CBP, Stewart was referred to secondary screening upon arrival. Officers conducted a baggage examination and searched his electronic devices, including a cell phone and e-reader. Investigators found child sexual abuse material and bestiality materials on the cell phone.
“Customs and Border Protection officers are committed to working with our partners to identify travelers in possession of child sexual abuse materials and hold them accountable for perpetuating this reprehensible victimization of children,” said Area Port Director Christine Waugh of the CBP Area Port of Washington, D.C.
CBP officers turned Stewart over to MWAA Police for processing on the state charges. The case will proceed in Virginia courts because the alleged offenses were discovered at Dulles International Airport, which is located in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Chesapeake Beach is a small waterfront community in Calvert County. Residents there and across Southern Maryland may recognize the name from local connections, though court records show Stewart has not previously appeared in high-profile local cases.
Federal authorities have increased efforts in recent years to intercept child sexual abuse material at U.S. borders. CBP officers at major airports, including Dulles, routinely examine electronic devices when there is reasonable suspicion of illegal content. The agency works closely with local law enforcement and federal partners such as Homeland Security Investigations when such material is discovered.
Virginia law treats possession of child pornography as a serious felony. The additional charge of possessing bestiality material falls under separate state statutes prohibiting obscene materials involving animals. Both charges carry significant penalties if a defendant is convicted.
Stewart remains in custody pending court proceedings. As with all criminal cases, the charges represent accusations only. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The incident highlights the role of federal border agencies in identifying individuals who may be transporting or possessing illegal material while traveling internationally. CBP has stated that its officers will continue to prioritize the detection of child sexual abuse material at ports of entry.
Further details about Stewart’s court dates or legal representation were not immediately available Wednesday evening.
