"Officer of the Year" arrested for child porn

He was once named his department's "Officer of the Year," now the cop faces federal charges for child pornography, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Port St. Lucie officer Michael Harding, 27, was arrested Tuesday after the department was notified by Homeland Security that Harding possesses child porn. The DOJ said if he is convicted, Harding faces a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, and maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison.

He went before a federal judge today and was held without bond. He will be back in front of the court on Sept. 30 for a detention hearing. 
Law enforcement conducted a raid on his home yesterday and seized his computer and cell phone, and according to the DOJ, officials found hundreds of sexually explicit materials involving children.

According to the Palm Beach Post, he was the Fort Pierce officer of the year in 2011. He later joined the Port St. Lucie police force.

About the Author