BALTIMORE — A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Stephen Nicholas Westcott, 35, of Kennedyville, charging him with sexual exploitation of a child; distribution of child sexual abuse material; possession of child sexual abuse material; and illegal possession of an unregistered silencer.
According to a Sept. 4 news release from the United States Attorney’s Office-District of Maryland, law enforcement arrested Westcott in Manistee County, Michigan, after he fled the state of Maryland to avoid arrest when a warrant was issued in February 2025.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation-Baltimore field office; Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Kent County State’s Attorney Bryan DiGregory; and Cecil County State’s Attorney James A. Dellmyer.
According to the 13-count indictment, Westcott allegedly produced sexually explicit images of a child under the age of 5.
Westcott also allegedly communicated and distributed child sexual abuse materials over various internet platforms including Snapchat, Discord and Telegram while maintaining a collection of child sexual abuse material on his personal electronic devices.
If convicted, Westcott faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a child, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of distribution of child pornography.
Additionally, Westcott is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of possession of child pornography and a maximum 10-year sentence for the count of possession of an unregistered silencer.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties, according to the news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt.
An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.