Feds: Cape man facing child porn charges took photos of children at beach

WEST YARMOUTH, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A Cape Cod man appeared in federal court Thursday on child pornography charges after he reportedly admitted to taking photos of children on local beaches.

Adam Polakowski, 45, of West Yarmouth, was ordered held without bail after he was charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.

In a court hearing Thursday, a Homeland Security agent stated that Polakowski owned and shared more than 800 pictures of child pornography. The agent said Polakowski admitted that he took pictures of little girls in bikinis on Cape Cod beaches, without their knowledge, and shared the photos with others.

Investigators say their probe began over the summer when they came across an e-mail address they believe belongs to Polakowski. They say he used that address to exchange about 36 e-mails with a man in Arizona who was already targeted by agents with the Department of Homeland Security.

Agents allege at least three of Polakowski's e-mails included 23 pornographic images and a video of child pornography. They claim the e-mails also contained graphic details of how the men would violate the young children.

In court Thursday, the Homeland Security agent said Polakowski's emails expressed a desire to use ropes, duct tape to abduct and rape children, and agents found those items in his van.

He also admitted to going to the Cape Cod mall to look for little girls, according to the agent's testimony in court.

Additionally, investigators executed a search warrant at the 45-year-old's home Tuesday, seizing a computer, thumb drive, an SD card, and 10 pairs of girls' underwear. Some of the underwear was stuffed into a pocket of a reclining chair.

Agents say Polakowski admitted he had been collecting the images since 2006 or 2007 and that he distributed them to others. He also reportedly admitted to secretly photographing girls on a local beach.

According to the Department of Justice, if convicted, Polakowski faces a mandatory minimum of five and a maximum of 20 years in prison each on the charge of distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Cox Media Group