SPRINGFIELD -- An Adams man facing federal child pornography charges was ordered held without bail on Wednesday following a hearing in federal district court.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Ponsor based his decision to hold 53-year-old William Guinan without the right to bail on the belief there was a serious risk the defendant would not appear for further proceedings. Guinan did not contest the move.
Guinan had his home raided by members of the federal Department of Homeland Security on Nov. 29 as part of an ongoing investigation into the exchange, distribution and possession of child pornography through an online peer-to-peer file-sharing program.
Law enforcement officials confiscated a computer at the home and allegedly discovered a cache of child pornography on the machine.
Guinan admitted to downloading the porn, according to the criminal complaint.
He is facing a single count of receiving material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. He has not yet been indicted on the charge. If found guilty he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to lifetime supervised release. He can also be fined up to $250,000.
His attorney, Elaine Pourinski, wouldn’t comment on the case.
The defendant is in jail under the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Guinan was the second county resident to be arrested on these types of charges recently.
Dalton resident Jared Sprague, 25, who was arrested by federal agents on Nov. 26 after the home where he lives was also raided, is out on a $35,000 unsecured bond with a long list of conditions.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven H. Breslow is prosecuting both cases.
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