A 61-year-old retired Middletown Police officer and Cromwell resident was charged Tuesday with possession of child pornography, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.



Samuel DiProto, 61, of Cromwell, was arrested Tuesday and charged by federal criminal complaint with possession of child pornography.



The criminal complaint alleges that on March 12, 2013 and April 10, 2013, a Connecticut State Police detective assigned to the Computer Crimes Unit logged onto a publicly available Internet file sharing network and downloaded images and videos of child pornography from a computer connected to the network with an Internet Protocol address assigned to DiProto.



During a search of his home Tuesday, law enforcement officers seized several items, including computers, hard drives and thumb drives. DiProto was arrested yesterday at home after the search.



He appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford, who ordered DiProto detained pending a hearing that is scheduled for May 13.



Middletown Police Sgt. Heather Desmond today confirmed DiProto was a police officer with the department from Sept. 21, 1987, to Aug. 19, 2009.



If convicted of the charge of possession of child pornography, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.



The penalties in this matter are enhanced because it is alleged that the defendant possessed depictions of prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12.



David B. Fein, U.S. States Attorney, says a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.



This matter is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.



The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.



This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.



DiProto's wife is assistant town clerk in Cromwell. In 1995, the DiProtos were among a group of Cromwell residents who filed a suit in superior court to prevent Wal-Mart from coming to the town, according to a story in the Hartford Courant. He is also past vice president of the police union, according to the Courant.