GREENBELT, Md. — The man investigators accuse of committing a string of crimes against at least three young girls pleaded not guilty to 18 federal counts producing child pornography.
The appearance of Kyle Thompson, 32, in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt comes a week after a federal grand jury indicted the Burtonsville, Maryland, man on the charges.
According to charging documents in Montgomery County, Thompson is accused of videotaping himself sexually abusing the girls, one of whom was a relative. Federal prosecutors say all the victims were between two and four years old when they were abused.
Thompson told the judge he understands the charges against him and did not contest being kept in jail as his case proceeded. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for each of the 18 counts against him in federal court.
“Kyle Thompson is supported by his loving family and friends, who are asking that everyone withhold judgment in this matter — as you would ask of others if it were your loved one who was facing a difficult legal situation,” said Thompson’s lawyer, Robert Bonsib.
Bonsib said his team has only begun the process of building their case and is still awaiting evidence from prosecutors.
An anonymous call tipped police off to the alleged sexual abuse which dates back to October 2015. The FBI said Thompson would befriend women related to his victims and investigators fear there could be more victims.
Thompson will remain in jail and be back in court in May for the federal charges. Before that, he will face a judge for a list of charges in Montgomery County, after a grand jury in the county on Thursday indicted him on 78 counts which include attempted rape, sexual abuse of a minor and dozens of sex offenses.
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