Officer accused of sexting with teen detained

An Anne Arundel County police lieutenant accused of “sexting” with a teenage girl has been ordered detained pending trial in federal court in Baltimore.

Forty-seven-year-old Lt. James Cifala is charged with attempted receipt of child pornography.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Gesner determined at a hearing Monday that Cifala is a danger to the community. Prosecutors say Cifala manipulated the 16-year-old girl into sending him sexually explicit photographs of herself via cell phone.

Cifala’s attorney, Howard Cardin, says he’s never seen the charge his client is facing brought in federal court. He says it’s a sign there’s a problem with the government’s case and that prosecutors may not have any pictures to present as evidence.

-- Associate Press