A Pasadena man, convicted Friday on child pornography charges, was sentenced to 18 months of home detention because the county detention center couldn’t accommodate his physical and mental disabilities.
Matthew Griffin, 31, who is borderline mentally retarded and uses a wheelchair because the lower half of his body was amputated, entered an Alford plea to 10 counts of child pornography possession, in which he maintains his innocence but concedes enough evidence exists to convict him.
“Obviously, you have severe problems and the county detention center, although willing, will not be able to deal with you adequately,” said Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Paul Hackner before handing down a sentence of six years incarceration with all but 18 months suspended, which can be served on home detention.
Hackner also imposed five years of supervised probation, during which the Department of Parole and Probation will be check Griffin’s computer for illegal activity.
Prosecutor Michael Dunty said Griffin’s e-mail account was flagged in June 2006 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
State police seized Griffin’s computer in August 2006 and recovered 92 photo images and 53 video clips, which included minors involved in sexual acts.
Defense Attorney James Pyne said Griffin is computer illiterate and other people could have “duped” him by accessing the pornography and stashed it on his computer.
Griffin’s family bought the computer at the recommendation of a psychiatrist who thought it would help him stay in contact with friends and alleviate his depression.
Griffin was born with spina bifida, in which his spinal cord was not fully developed, and his legs were amputated because of circulation issues. He must now use colostomy and urinostomy bags.
Pyne said Griffin’s needs would be “a nightmare for any jail” and Griffin is confined to his house except for weekly medical appointments.
“He’s in defacto home detention for the rest of his life,” Pyne said. “I don’t think it will do anybody any good to put a bracelet on his wheelchair to make sure he’s at home.”
Dunty did not contest the home detention, saying “It’s of everyone’s opinion that the defendant requires care and treatment beyond what any inmate requires.”
He added that Griffin’s safety could be jeopardized if other inmates targeted him for possessing child pornography.
Griffin has been on home detention since March because of the pending federal case.
