A Portland man pleaded guilty on July 29 in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of possessing child pornography.
According to court records, a social media application company reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in December 2025 that one of its users had saved, shared, or uploaded a file containing child sexual abuse materials. Investigators identified a Google account associated with the user and obtained a search warrant for the account. The account contained thousands of files depicting child sexual abuse, as well as a selfie-style photo of Clyde Hall, 60. The Google account also included numerous emails addressed to Hall, package delivery information to his residence, and his banking information. Hall has a prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography.
Hall faces a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and up to lifetime supervised release. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Department.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordination among federal, state, and local resources.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes throughout Maine; handling civil matters involving the government; collecting owed federal debts; building alliances with law enforcement agencies; serving as chief federal law enforcement officer; covering all regions within Maine; enhancing quality of life through law enforcement efforts; and operating as a federal law enforcement agency, according to the official website.