Maryland Man Whose Family Operated Home Day Care Charged in Child Pornography Case

A Maryland man whose family operated a home day care is charged with producing child pornography and sexually exploiting a child, according to FBI records and court filings obtained by the News4 I-Team.

An FBI affidavit accuses Steve Baker of possessing at his workplace in Vienna, Virginia, and his home in Kensington at least 50,000 illegal images of prepubescent children.

Though the affidavit doesn’t make any reference to a child care center, Maryland state records show Baker listed as a “family member” on a registration for a child care facility in Kensington from 2008 to 2012. The state records show the listed owner of the child care was Diane Baker, who is referenced as Steve Baker’s wife in the FBI affidavit. The FBI affidavit specifies there were suspicious on-line postings by Baker as early as 2011.

The FBI tracked Baker by connecting online postings to an IP address belonging to Action Signs, a sign shop in Vienna, according to the FBI affidavit. Baker is employed by Action Signs and admitted downloading child pornography inside the store, the affidavit said.

FBI investigators interviewed Baker at the store, their affidavit said. The FBI court filing detailed the discussion between an agent and Baker.

“When Baker was asked if he knew why the (FBI) agents were there, Baker stated, ‘I have child porn on my computers,’ and, ‘I have been waiting for someone to come,’” the affidavit said.

The affidavit said, “Baker stated, ‘I’m actually downloading a file right now. Do you want to see? Come on I’ll show you.”

According to the FBI affidavit, agents found the suspicious on-line porn postings were made by a person who used the username “SIGNMAN.”

The person inside Action Signs declined to open the door, when the I-Team went to the store Thursday. No one inside answered a knock at the door of Baker’s listed address in Kensington, either.

Baker’s defense attorney, Pleasant Brodnax, requested the I-Team submit questions about the case by email. Brodnax has not yet responded to those questions.

Baker is scheduled to appear in federal court in Greenbelt June 13.

Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Michael O'Regan.

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