The individual formerly holding the position of editor-in-chief at a left-leaning political news outlet is said to be facing charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography, as per Massachusetts authorities.
44-year-old Slade Sohmer, who recently served as the editor-in-chief of the video-centric news platform The Recount, was granted release on $100,000 bail after being accused in a Massachusetts court of having and disseminating "hundreds of child pornography images and videos," according to The Berkshire Eagle.
Sohmer, previously associated with a New York City-based nonprofit as a camp counselor, was apprehended at his residence in Otis, Mass., following the confiscation of his electronic devices by law enforcement officials who obtained a search warrant. He has entered a plea of not guilty to two counts each of possession and dissemination of child pornography.
If found guilty, Sohmer could face mandatory sentences of at least 10 years in state prison for dissemination and five years for possession. Assistant District Attorney Marianne Shelvey described this case as one of the most "egregious" she has encountered.
The News Movement, the parent company of The Recount, confirmed that Sohmer is no longer the editor-in-chief, attributing the change to a company restructure exercise in early October. Attempts to obtain a comment from Sohmer were unsuccessful.
Sohmer's LinkedIn profile outlines his professional history with organizations such as SiriusXM Radio, HyperVocal, Mic, and the now-defunct Beme, a video news company acquired by CNN. Additionally, since 2010, he has been listed as a co-director at Camp Power, a nonprofit offering support to underprivileged children from New York City.
According to court documents reported by The Berkshire Eagle, Sohmer's phone contained disturbing video clips featuring minors engaged in explicit activities. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reportedly alerted Massachusetts State Police Cyber Crime Unit after receiving a suspicious video on Snapchat in September of the previous year.
Authorities traced the video to Sohmer's home internet account, leading to the seizure of electronic devices on October 18. Investigators allege that one of Sohmer's phones was used to send 53 videos containing child pornography.
Further allegations suggest Sohmer was recorded instructing a minor to engage in explicit acts, with the identified child potentially leading to additional charges. Prosecutor Marianne Shelvey indicated a shift from dissemination to production of child pornography.
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