Wareham Man Arrested on Federal Child Pornography Charges

BOSTON (WBSM) —- A Wareham man was taken into custody Friday on federal charges for possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material.

The FBI’s Boston office posted on its Facebook page that the agency, along with Massachusetts State Police and East Bridgewater Police, with assistance from Marion Police, arrested Brandon Bendall of Wareham without incident.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bendall, 49, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography and made his initial appearance in federal court. Bendall was held in custody pending a detention hearing.

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office said court documents allege that Bendall was part of an online chat group in which members viewed and posted child sexual abuse material.

A search of his residence and cell phone allegedly turned up about 9,400 images and videos of CSAM, “including images of children as young as infants being sexually assaulted,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

If convicted, Bendall faces five to 20 years in prison on the receipt of child pornography charge, as well as five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.