Coast Guard Takes Over Child Porn Case Against Guardsman
BARNSTABLE, Mass. (AP) — The Cape and Islands district attorney's office has dropped a child pornography charge against a Coast Guardsman because the military has taken over the case.
An office spokeswoman says Ryan Ruff's case is now under Coast Guard jurisdiction.
The Barnstable man was arrested in Bourne in December on a DUI charge. Authorities say police discovered a sexually explicit image of a young girl on his phone. Police say more images were later found.
Ruff denied knowing anything about the photos. The Cape Cod Times reports that Ruff's attorney argued to suppress the images, saying police didn't have permission to search the phone.
He says the child pornography case will be handled at a Coast Guard court in Boston.
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