OPD rearrests child porn suspect on 12 warrants

Olney police rearrested a 54-year-old Graham man early Monday morning on 12 warrants for possessing and intending to distribute child pornography, a month after his arrest at his Olney employer on four identical charges, jail records show.

William Michael Bahl II was in Young County Jail in lieu of $2.7 million bail after Olney Police Det. Autumn Thames discovered images and videos depicting child sex abuse in his social media accounts, Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck said.

Mr. Bahl was arrested during a bail check-in at the Young County Sheriff ’s Office, Chief Birbeck said. He was free on $600,000 bail stemming from his arrest on Nov. 27 on four charges of possession and intent to distribute child pornography, jail records show.

Olney police seized Mr. Bahl’s mobile phone and elec- tronic devices on Nov. 12 and issued a preservation letter to the social media platform following a tip from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Chief Birbeck said.

Mr. Bahl was taken into custody early on Jan. 6 “to keep the community safe,” Chief Birbeck said.

The Nov. 27 charges resulted from the search of his devices, Chief Birbeck said. The new allegations resulted from the analysis of his social media account, he said.

The case is still under investigation, he said.

District Attorney Dee Peavy had no comment on the case.