Spy camera draws arrest

Waldorf man charged with child porn offenses

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

Charles County sheriff's officers last week charged a Waldorf man with hiding a video camera in a bathroom and storing the footage and other child pornography on his computer, according to court documents.

The matchbox-sized camera was discovered Oct. 25, court papers state. Two days later, sheriff's officers seized Michael Anthony Poole's computer tower, hard drives, thumb drives and a floppy disc, according to the records.

On Dec. 9, investigators learned the equipment contained "multiple" files of child pornography, court documents state. After the discovery, police arrested Poole, 39, and charged him with possession of child pornography, storing child pornography on a computer and filming child pornography.

He is being held at the Charles County jail with his bail set at $25,000.

Poole allegedly failed to appear to a Nov. 2 court hearing, according to records. He told acquaintances he was collecting his passport and clothes for a cruise trip and asked sheriff's detective Jack Austin if he could travel to Florida.

"Based on the nature of the investigation and the aforementioned facts, I believe Mr. Poole may be a flight risk," Austin wrote in the statement of charges.

At his Friday bail review, Poole said he wants to get out of jail and receive medical treatment.

"I've let my psychological health slide over the years and would like to get on track with that," he said, adding that he is currently unemployed.

Charles County Assistant State's Attorney John A. Stackhouse asked the judge to raise Poole's bail, citing Austin's concerns that the Waldorf man might try to flee prosecution. Visiting district court Judge Stephen L. Clagett called Poole's charges "serious," but left the bail at $25,000.

Poole's preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for Jan. 8.

A woman answered the phone at the address listed in Poole's court records.

She identified herself as his sister, Angel Poole, and said she and her family don't want to comment on the charges.

brodgers@somdnews.com