A Southwest Harbor resident has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
Court records state that Gary Peters, 36, solicited and received child pornography from two minors using a social media and messaging application in October 2023. On March 27, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at his home, where they found additional child pornography on various electronic devices, including his cell phone.
Peters could face between five and twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing will occur after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigative report. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Child sexual abuse material continues to be a significant concern nationwide. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports related to possession, manufacture, or distribution of such materials. Individuals can report incidents involving these crimes through NCMEC at https://report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678. Maine residents affected by sexual assault or abuse can seek help via the statewide helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
