MECHANICSVILLE, Va. (WTVR)-- A Mechanicsville couple was targeted by the FBI because federal investigators say child porn was being downloaded to computers using their internet service.
Trouble is, those computers did not belong to the couple. After a lengthy investigation and frightening moments for the husband and wife it was determined their neighbor was allegedly committing the crimes.
In a Mechanicsville neighborhood off of Pole Green Road, the only lawbreakers neighbors worry about are speeders, but that changed last month. The Feds arrested David Edward Sleezer and are charging him with five counts of receiving and distributing child porn.
“You never know who lives next door to you or what you have,” says neighbor Kendrick Crotty. “I never thought anyone would do anything like that, but you never know--you think you know someone but you don’t.”
According to the indictment, when the Feds raided Sleezer’s home January 23 on J David Lane, agents confiscated a computer, seven CDs and a thumb drive, each containing images and videos of child porn.
Agents say Sleezer was stealing his neighbors unsecured Wi-Fi signal to commit the crimes.
Initially the Feds suspected Sleezer’s neighbors of downloading the images, but after determining the husband and wife didn’t commit a crime, they eventually tracked the activity to Sleezer’s home across the street.
“In two clicks of a button you’re on someone’s Wi-Fi,” says social-networking expert Dave Saunders.
Saunders says it is imperative to lock your home internet service.
“Worse cased scenario is they get access to your data and the have access they shouldn’t have access to," he said. "Chances are if you haven`t locked down your Wi-Fi you haven`t locked down the important stuff.”
Mary Doak, who was shocked, lives across the street from Sleezer. “It is a sign of the times what people think they can get away with,” she says.
The couple initially targeted by the FBI did not want to go on camera for our story but did say they were totally blindsided by the allegations. They're urging everyone with Wi-Fi at their home to lock it down.
As for their neighbor, David Sleezer, he is being held by authorities. CBS6 reached out to his attorney, but we haven't heard back. Sleezer will be back in Federal court next week.
