CT sex offender on probation charged with possessing multiple images of child pornography

A Connecticut sex offender is facing child exploitation charges after he was allegedly found in possession of multiple images of child pornography while on federal supervised release, officials said.

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment Tuesday charging 36-year-old Michael Szwarc of Derby with child exploitation offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

According to court records, Szwarc was convicted in 2013 in state court of possession of second-degree child pornography and in federal court in 2022 of receipt of child pornography. In January, while Szwarc was on federal supervised release, his probation officer conducted an unannounced visit to his home and reportedly discovered an unauthorized laptop, which was seized, the indictment said.

“A subsequent examination of the device by the FBI revealed multiple images of child pornography,” according to the indictment.

The indictment charges Szwarc with receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years, and with possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography, which has a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, federal officials said.

“The penalties in this matter are enhanced because of Szwarc’s prior federal and state convictions for possessing child pornography,” according to federal officials.

Szwarc has been detained since his arrest on Feb. 9, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.