A former Ocean City, Maryland, police officer and another man were charged Monday with a combined 55 counts of possession of child pornography.
Maryland State Police arrested Charles Thomas Zukas, 60, and Jodie Veter Orr, 25, both of Berlin, Maryland. Both Zukas and Orr turned themselves in to State Police Monday morning and were being held pending appearance before a Worcester County District Court Commissioner.
Maryland State Police arrested Charles Thomas Zukas, a former Ocean City police officer, for alleged possession of child pornography.
(Maryland State Police)
Zukas, police said, was charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography and Orr was charged with 33 counts of possession of child pornography.
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The Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division, Eastern Region, launched an investigation into the possession of child pornography in March 2022, and on March 16, officers issued a search warrant at the suspects’ home in Berlin.
The electronic devices were seized as part of the search, and according to State Police, a preliminary forensic review found the devices contained multiple files of child pornography.
Jodie Veter Orr of Berlin, Maryland, was arrested Monday for alleged possession of child pornography.
(Maryland State Police)
The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
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On Monday morning, Ocean City police issued a statement regarding the arrest of Zukas, a former police officer with the department.
“The Ocean City Police Department has been informed that former officer Charles Zukas, 60, has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography,” the statement read. “The Maryland State Police is handling this investigation. The Ocean City Police Department takes this matter seriously and will assist the Maryland State Police as needed.”
The department added that Zukas was employed by the department from September 1994 until he retired in June 2014.
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Following his retirement, Zukas served as a reserve police officer with the department until March 2022.
