HAGERSTOWN, MD — A Hagerstown man has been indicted on federal charges after employees working on his phone discovered sexual images of adolescents.
The Hagerstown Police Department reports the images were discovered in November when employees with a local cell phone store told police a man identified as William Foster Alger, age 75 of Hagerstown, had brought his cell phone into their store for repair.
During the course of the repair, employees discovered pictures of nude females who appeared to be adolescents.
Hagerstown detectives learned that the suspect, William Foster Alger, age 75 of Hagerstown, had foreign connections and believed the images were taken in Equador. Detectives contacted the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) from the Frederick, MD office to assist with the investigation. HSI and HPD worked in conjunction to execute search warrants on Alger’s home in the 1200 block of Virginia Ave along with numerous electronic devices. Alger was placed under arrest at the time the warrants were served.
HPD says Alger has been charged with:
One count of “Child Porn Permit Sex Subject”
One count of “Child Porn Solicit Subject”
Ten Counts regarding Child Porn Possession.
Due to the international nature of the investigation, the Department of Justice adopted the case which has led to a federal indictment.
From the US Attorney’s office press release: “According to the indictment, between November 2023 and December 2024, the defendant persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced three minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting child sexual abuse material. Additionally, Alger allegedly enticed the minors to engage in prohibited sexual conduct. He also possessed child sexual abuse material in an internet-based account and on four digital devices.”
Alger has been held at the Washington County Detention Center since the time of his arrest by HPD.
The Department of Justice will take custody of Alger in the near future where he will be detained in a federal facility.
