UPDATE: Mark A. Galligan pleaded guilty in September 2017 in Clark County Superior Court to one count each of first-degree dealing and possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of voyeurism. He was sentenced in November 2017 to 67 months in prison, court records show.
A Vancouver man suspected of possessing and distributing images of child pornography made a first appearance Friday in Clark County Superior Court.
Mark A. Galligan, 35, appeared on suspicion of 10 counts of dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, court records show.
In July, the Vancouver Police Department’s Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit learned that a local IP address had downloaded at least 11 images and videos of child pornography. The images were of prepubescent girls engaged in various types of sexual abuse, according to a probable cause affidavit.
A warrant was executed on the internet service provider, which traced the IP address back to Galligan’s residence, the affidavit states.
Police then used a ruse to schedule a meeting with Galligan at an undercover residence. Galligan responded to the residence Sept. 1 and was detained.
He admitted to downloading the images, court records said.
Galligan said he has downloaded child pornography three to six times in the last year, according to court documents, and said he knew it was wrong but that he liked the “high” he got from viewing the images. He deleted the files, he said, after viewing them.
Police served a search warrant at his residence and seized his computer. They also found a “spy cam” in his bedroom that Galligan said he uses to engage in voyeurism of occupants of his residence, the affidavit said.
Galligan told authorities he lives with his parents and is self-employed as a photographer, court records show.
On Friday, Vancouver defense attorney Steve Thayer made a courtesy appearance with Galligan. Judge Daniel Stahnke set his bail at $20,000.
He will be arraigned Sept. 15.
