Federal prosecutors indicted an ex-Gary Police Commander Thursday for having a sexual relationship, then coercing a minor to send an explicit picture to his iPhone.
James W. Bond, 52, is charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography, according to a release from Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual.
He faces up to 60 years in prison.
Bond was arrested Thursday. He was scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Abizer Zanzi in the U.S. District Court in Hammond.
He quit the force on Aug. 19, according to Gary Police Spokesman Captain Sam Roberts.
The teen worked for Gary’s Summer Youth Employment Program. A brief federal indictment shows the crime happened between July 2-9 and Bond was caught with at least one pornographic picture sent to his iPhone.
Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter and Chicago Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Sean Carter announced the indictment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois is stepping in to prosecute, partly since Bond also worked as a Gary homicide detective for several years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Indiana recused itself.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner is assigned to the case.
Any other potential victims, or anyone with more information can call Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.
This is a developing story. Check back for more information.
