A Maryland resident has been indicted on charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
Donald Bernard Mewhort, Sr., 42, of Lexington Park, Maryland, faces a three-count indictment for sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement of a minor, and transfer of obscene matter to a minor. The alleged offenses took place in Limestone County, Alabama between January 6 and January 12, 2026.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office and Baltimore Field Office, with assistance from the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case.
“If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org,” stated officials.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to find and prosecute individuals who exploit children online and to help identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Authorities remind that “an indictment is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
