>>160517His name's Matthew Mahl.
Former Netanyahu Security Chief and MPD Lieutenant Arrested in Undercover Child Solicitation Sting in United StatesWashington (QNN)- Benjamin Netanyahu’s former personal security chief and Washington police lieutenant Matthew Mahl faced arrest in mid-April after investigators caught him soliciting a minor and attempting to obtain child sexual abuse material during an undercover operation in Maryland.
Authorities said Mahl, 47, communicated for nearly a month with an undercover detective from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office who posed online as a 15-year-old boy named “Nate.”
According to charging documents, the undercover officer repeatedly mentioned the supposed teenager’s age and inexperience during the conversations. Prosecutors said Mahl acknowledged several times that the person was underage but continued sending sexually explicit messages and photographs anyway.
Investigators said Mahl used Reddit chats and text messages to communicate with the undercover officer. Court records stated that he eventually arranged to travel to Harford County to meet the person he believed was a teenage boy for sexual activity.
Deputies arrested Mahl after he arrived at the agreed meeting location.
During a bail hearing, prosecutors described Mahl as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” arguing that his position in law enforcement made the allegations even more serious because officers hold public trust and responsibility for protecting children.
Charging documents also stated that Mahl disclosed his role in policing during the conversations. According to investigators, he told the undercover officer that he “could get in trouble” while the teenager would not because he was “a child,” adding that he had “it all to lose.”
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that it placed Mahl on administrative leave and revoked his police powers after learning about the arrest. The department said its Internal Affairs Division would open a separate investigation once the criminal case concludes.
“The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast with the values of the Metropolitan Police Department,” the department said in a statement.
Authorities charged Mahl with sexual solicitation of a minor and solicitation of child pornography. A judge ordered him held without bail.
Mahl previously served as chairman of the D.C. Fraternal Order of Police between 2016 and 2018. Union members unsuccessfully attempted to remove him from the position during his term.
Advocates for survivors of sexual violence said the case could further damage public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Mahl was scheduled to return to court in May as the investigation continued.
The US ddoes not publish comprehensive statistics tracking the number of Israeli or dual nationals accused of soliciting minors in the US However, several media reports do occasionally surface, exposing Israeli citizens or dual nationals accused of child solicitation in the US.
Within Israel, authorities do publish some data on documented sex crimes. According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, hundreds of individuals are accused of sexual offenses each year.
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