LISBON — State police charged a local man Monday with computer sex crimes related to children under 12 years of age, according to a Maine Department of Public Safety statement.
Joseph Gibson, 35, of 6 Ridge Road in Lisbon Falls was arrested about 8 a.m. when the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Homeland Security Investigations served a search warrant as part of an online child exploitation investigation.
Gibson is charged with dissemination of sexually explicit material and possession of sexually explicit material with children under 12 years of age, with priors. The first charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. The second charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
Gibson is being held at the Androscoggin County Jail on $20,000 bail.
Lisbon High School was put on a “soft lockdown” during the investigation because Gibson’s address is within 1,000 feet of the school. Police also closed a road for a short time, the statement said.
Police said there is no threat to the public or to the school.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less