Arrest warrant issued for indicted child pornographer

Deputy District Attorney Justina McGettigan informs the court today that indicted child pornographer Timothy Colwell is rumored to be living in Florida. (Harrison Thorp photo)

ALFRED, Maine - A arrest warrant was issued today for a former Lebanon man indicted on child pornography charges after he failed to show for his arraignment in York County Superior Court.

Deputy District Attorney Justina McGettigan told Judge John H. O’Neil that Timothy Colwell, 49, formerly of Knox Lane, was now rumored to live somewhere in Florida, according to the Maine Computer Crime Task Force, a division of Maine State Police.

Colwell voluntarily surrendered his computer to the Task Force whose forensic investigators found at least eight images of children age 12 and under performing various sex acts, said Task Force Investigator Frank Stepnick. The charges were originally dated August 2011, and Colwell was formally indicted in August.

Stepnick said after the indictment that the task force became aware of Colwell’s activity through his use of an online file-sharing network.

Stepnick added there was never any indication any of the images were of local children.

Possession of child pornography is a Class C felony punishable by a prison term of up to five years and a $5,000 fine.

McGettigan said on Wednesday that the arrest warrant advisory would go out to law enforcement nationwide. O’Neil set bail of $1,000 cash if Colwell is located.