Baltimore sex offender sentenced to prison for possessing child pornography

BALTIMORE — A Baltimore registered sex offender was sentenced to 10 years in prison – followed by supervised release for life – for possessing child pornography following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baltimore County Police Department.

Windsor Warner Kessler, 25, of Baltimore, was sentenced Jan. 17 by U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr., who ordered that upon his release from prison, Kessler must register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

According to the plea agreement and court documents, on Jan. 10, 2008, Kessler pleaded guilty in Baltimore County to a third degree sex offense arising from having sex with a 13-year-old minor. Consequently, he is a registered sex offender.

On Jan. 31, 2011, a Baltimore County detective downloaded two child pornography videos using a peer-to-peer program. Further investigation revealed that the IP from which the videos were downloaded was assigned to Kessler's father in Baltimore County, Md.

On Feb. 23, 2011, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Kessler home. All of the occupants confirmed that the one computer at the residence was used primarily by Kessler. Kessler confessed to downloading, viewing and saving child pornography on his computer, and keeping the child porn in a hidden folder. Additionally, he confessed to having downloaded child porn videos as recently as January 2011.

A forensic analysis of the computer and two DVDs found in Kessler's bedroom revealed 23 videos and seven still images depicting child pornography, including images depicting sadistic and masochistic conduct, as well as images of pre-pubescent children.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin S. Herring.