Bail was raised to $500,000 Friday for a Baldwin man indicted this week by a Harford County grand jury on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography.
Raymond M. Goodridge, 20, of the 2600 block of Baldwin Mill Road but who the Harford County Sheriff's Office says lives in Dundalk, was indicted Tuesday and arrested Wednesday.
Goodridge is charged with possession of child pornography with intent to distribute and 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
His bail was raised from $250,000 to $500,000 at a review hearing before Harford County Circuit Court Judge Angela Eaves, where a prosecutor said Goodridge is a flight risk and "a major threat to society."
Asst. State's Attorney Lisa Marts, who is assigned to the Harford Child Advocacy Center, told Eaves she expects similar charges to be filed against Goodridge in Baltimore County and that investigators have identified some of the children in images and movies found in Goodridge's possession, including a 3-year-old.
Marts said Goodridge had some 4,000 pornographic images and 150 pornographic movies of children ranging in age from infants to 12-13 years old.
Thomas Ashwell, a public defender who represented Goodridge at the review, argued for a bail reduction, saying that Goodridge lives with his mother, "has a stable home environment" and would not be a flight risk.
Ashwell said Goodridge is self-employed, doing repairs on iPhones and other electronics. He also said Goodridge was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder at age 14, suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and has been seeing a psychiatrist since the age 6.
In addition to the likelihood of more charges being filed against Goodridge in Baltimore County, Marts said he has ties to both Florida and Canada and should be kept in jail.
Eaves said the bail can only be posted as a corporate surety bond.
Following the hearing, Marts said she was satisfied Goodridge's bail was raised. "Let's hope it holds him," she added.
Ashwell said his office had just received the case and has not had an opportunity to review documents or other materials from the state, so he was reluctant to comment beyond saying they would be developing Goodridge's defense over the coming weeks.
According to Sheriff's Office, the charges against Goodridge arose out of an investigation conducted by the Child Advocacy Center by Det. Janelle Myers.
Because it has been determined since Goodridge's arrest that there are possibly victims in both Harford and Baltimore counties, investigators are attempting to find minors who may have had contact with Goodridge at either of his homes, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Harford County Child Advocacy Center, Cpl. Michael Schleper or Det. Myers at 410-638-3294. If the contact occurred in Baltimore County, contact Detective Chris Rout, Baltimore County Crimes Against Children Unit/ICAC, 410-853-3650.
Goodridge is being held at the Harford County Detention Center.