A former Maine probation officer and China resident faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to accessing child pornography.
Prosecutors say an investigation revealed 53-year-old Jeffery Furlong uploaded multiple videos of child sexual abuse material in 2024.
The Bangor Daily News reports Furlong’s case is notable because he was recognized for work overseeing people convicted of sex crimes, including a violent rapist who fled to Canada.
Furlong worked for the Maine Department of Corrections for more than two decades and received several honors during his time with the agency.
The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit began investigating a tip in June 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say Furlong admitted that he had obtained multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his cellular telephone through Kik, which is a free instant messaging mobile app.
They say a search warrant on Furlong’s Kik account revealed child sexual abuse material and his expressed sexual interest in children 6-to-12 years old.
Furlong faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. Prosecutors say he will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office.
Furlong was convicted in federal district court in Portland.
