Walter A. Hayes, of Aberdeen was arrested at his mother's home in New Castle County, Del., last week. He remains in a Delaware jail, where he is refusing extradition, authorities said.
Hayes, a clerical secretary with the agency for seven years, had his work computer confiscated as part of the investigation, said Elizabeth Bartholomew, spokeswoman for the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation.
"If he's found guilty, certainly it will affect his employment with the division," she said.
His wife, Sondra Hayes of Aberdeen, reported him to the Harford County Child Advocacy Center after finding videos of children on his home computer, according to court documents.
On Dec. 31, she filed for a protective order from Walter Hayes, saying that her husband has "anger rages" and that she feared for herself and her 24-year-old son's safety because Walter Hayes had shoved her in the past and had broken into their Aberdeen home, records stated.
In a court document, she alleged that his home computer contained more than 100 photos of children.
Sondra Hayes could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Harford County State's Attorney Joseph I. Cassilly said he did not know the number of images found on the personal computer, but the investigation continues.
Hayes could face more charges, and the case will go to the grand jury, he said.
Hayes was being held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, Del., in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Harford County officials will have to go through the governor's office to get a warrant of extradition to bring the suspect back to Maryland, Cassilly said.
Madison Park
Dundalk fire declared arson
A single-alarm fire Sunday afternoon in a Dundalk townhouse that also damaged two adjoining units was declared arson, Baltimore County fire officials said yesterday.
The fire caused an estimated $80,000 in damage to the houses in the 3400 block of Dunhaven Road, near Logan Village Shopping Center, and displaced at least two occupants who escaped the flames.
Elise Armacost, a Fire Department spokeswoman, said no injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
Ellie Baublitz
Fake IDs bring prison term
A former Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration employee was sentenced yesterday to three years and three months in federal prison for issuing more than 150 state identification cards to people not legally in the United States, according to the U.S. attorney's office. James Edwin Harrell, 51, of Beltsville, also was ordered to serve three years of supervised probation upon his release, prosecutors said.
