A Virginia law enforcement officer was fired after the FBI arrested him and charged him with receiving child sex abuse material.
In court Monday, Justin Forman — who had been with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office for about a decade — asked for his release, but a U.S. District Court judge said the risk to the community is too great to release the former patrol sergeant from jail.
Prosecutors told the judge Forman had more than 300 files of child sexual abuse material on his personal phone. They believe that’s just the start because the FBI is still reviewing several other devices.
Last week, the FBI searched his home and devices, and, in an affidavit, the FBI says it discovered Forman received multiple videos of child sexual abuse, including one video involving a baby under 1 year old. Prosecutors say hundreds of additional files have since been discovered.
In determining whether Forman would be released from custody while awaiting trial, the judge said that given his former profession, he was able to live enough of a double life where the court can’t be sure about the safety of the community, so he will remain in custody.
Prosecutors told the court Forman would face a minimum five years in prison if convicted. The maximum sentence could be 20 years.
At least as long ago as 2023, Forman, 37, of Fredericksburg, allegedly used Telegram to solicit, purchase and receive child sex abuse material, according to court documents. Police arrested him Thursday. Forman pleaded not guilty.
