Bowie Man Arrested for Child Porn Distribution

Braeden E. Swisher, 26, a Bowie resident, was taken into custody Tuesday morning after troopers from the Maryland State Police Child Exploitation Unit executed an authorized search warrant at his home in Prince George’s County. Maryland State Police said the arrest followed an investigation that developed evidence of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Swisher is charged with six counts of distribution of child pornography and six counts of possession of child pornography, also described in official materials as child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The charges were filed following the state police probe and Swisher was transported to the Prince George’s County Detention Center to await review by a court commissioner.

Maryland State Police said the probe began after “In October 2025, Maryland State Police received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation into the possession and viewing of child pornography led to the identification of Swisher as the suspect.” That cybertip prompted the Computer Crimes Unit and the Child Exploitation Unit to develop leads that resulted in the search warrant served at Swisher’s Bowie residence.

“This morning, troopers from the Maryland State Police Child Exploitation Unit served an authorized search warrant at Swisher’s residence in Bowie. He was interviewed and arrested on scene without incident,” the state police release stated. The arrest was carried out in consultation with the Office of the State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County, and formal charging documents list the twelve counts against Swisher.

The Maryland State Police release put the investigation in the context of a statewide effort, noting that “The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This is a combined law enforcement effort involving police departments across Maryland that is made possible in part due to grant funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy and by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Task force investigators focus on identifying those involved in child pornography via the Internet and other related crimes that victimize children.”

Officials did not provide details on specific files, devices seized, or alleged victims in the materials released Tuesday morning. The MSP release also did not include booking bail amounts or an arraignment date; those records are typically processed through the Prince George’s County Detention Center and the county court system. The state police provided contact information in the news release for further inquiries, including (410) 653-4200 and the tip line 1-888-373-7888.

Swisher remains detained at the Prince George’s County Detention Center pending court processing, and it is not yet clear whether state prosecutors will seek federal involvement as the case proceeds.