A Westport teenager is accused of downloading child pornography onto a computer then tampering with the device so police could not find images, police say.
Sam Gold, 19, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography in the second degree, tampering with evidence, interfering with a search, and interfering with an officer.
Police say a town resident reported that Gold was downloading child pornography onto his computer in April of 2020.
After an investigation, police say they traced the IP address of the computer being used to download the suspected images and found it was coming from a home in Westport.
A search warrant was obtained for Gold's residence to search the computers and electronic devices at the house.
Police say Gold tampered with some of the devices that the investigating detectives were attempting to inspect during the investigation.
During an examination of the devices that were seized, suspected images of child pornography downloaded by Gold were located.
A warrant was issued for Gold's arrest. Gold turned himself in at the Westport Police Department on the morning of Feb. 6, 2021.
He was released after posting a $100,000 bond and was arraigned at Norwalk Superior Court.