Extensive Probe Leads To Indictment

OCEAN CITY -- A Worcester County grand jury last week indicted an Ocean City man on child pornography charges following a nearly two-year investigation.

Last Tuesday, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) arrested Laurence John Bode, 60, of Ocean City, after a grand jury indicted him on 16 child pornography charges earlier this month.

The grand jury indicted Bode after an 18-month investigation into his alleged illicit activities that began back in July 2010. OCPD detectives began their investigation in July 2010 after being contacted by a Homeland Security Investigations special agent-in-charge assigned to the Ocean City office.

The HSI special agent informed the OCPD that Bode was allegedly distributing images of child pornography over the Internet. At the conclusion of the 18-month investigation, the evidence was presented to a Worcester grand jury earlier this month, resulting in Bode’s indictment on 16 total counts including two counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of distribution of obscene matter and 12 counts of possession of child pornography.

OCPD detectives, with assistance from HSI officials, arrested Bode on Tuesday without incident. He was being held on a pre-set $100,000 bond and was transferred to the Worcester County Jail.