JBLM soldier arrested, accused of sexually exploiting teens
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier accused of sexually exploiting teenage girls was arrested on Monday after returning from Afghanistan.
David Michael Ford, 24, was booked into Pierce County Jail on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, extortion, communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Detectives from the Washington State Patrol Missing and Exploited Children's Task Force say Ford used Facebook to meet teenage girls, ranging in age from 15- to 17-years old.
Using money, gifts and fear tactics, Ford allegedly convinced the girls to send him pornographic pictures and videos of themselves.
"I'm not going to get into the details of how revealing they were, but they do rise to what we believe are child pornography," WSP Lt. Ron Mead said in May. "You have underage children in various states of undress."
After getting the photos, Ford allegedly wanted more and threatened to post the images online if the girls weren't forthcoming. That's when one of the girls called police, said the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Division.
Evidence found on Ford's computer allegedly showed dozens of other potential victims who detectives have yet to identify.
Ford and the rest of the 3rd Stryker Brigade had been in Afghanistan since November.
David Michael Ford, 24, was booked into Pierce County Jail on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, extortion, communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Detectives from the Washington State Patrol Missing and Exploited Children's Task Force say Ford used Facebook to meet teenage girls, ranging in age from 15- to 17-years old.
Using money, gifts and fear tactics, Ford allegedly convinced the girls to send him pornographic pictures and videos of themselves.
"I'm not going to get into the details of how revealing they were, but they do rise to what we believe are child pornography," WSP Lt. Ron Mead said in May. "You have underage children in various states of undress."
After getting the photos, Ford allegedly wanted more and threatened to post the images online if the girls weren't forthcoming. That's when one of the girls called police, said the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Division.
Evidence found on Ford's computer allegedly showed dozens of other potential victims who detectives have yet to identify.
Ford and the rest of the 3rd Stryker Brigade had been in Afghanistan since November.
haha i graduated with the guy lol i knew he'd get caught some day
Is he going to be protected because he is a soldier? Probably an army soldier killed our son and walked. The army and what they call the brotherhood protected him, didn't have to bond out, nobody wanted to convict him because he was in the army. Just because you serve doesn't give you the right to come back to the states and destroy peoples lives. I hope he this soldier will have to pay, but we won't hold our breath on that.
How did he "force" them to send pictures? Â No, he "talked them into it". Â This is just more media pandering to the notion that teen girls are absolutely devoid of any thoughts of their own.
Are we going to be informed of the punishment or will this just disappear?
Did he think what he does in Afghanistan stays in Afghanistan once he comes home? Â
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It's a shame that the few bad examples like this are what shape some peoples' image of the men/women who risk their lives for our comfort and freedoms every day.Â
 @Heisenberg It isn't clouding my perceptions of anyone but the guy who did it. I'm optimistic that most people can make that distinction.
 @Heisenberg That is, most people not posting on internet forums, I guess...
ah, JBLM, never have to wait more than a week to hear about the next situation going on there...
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murders, rapes, child porn oh my.
So they merged the two bases in order to save money, but given countless scandals, they might need to close the base to escape further embarrassment.  From robing students at gunpoint in the UW, to having them OD in the freaking barracks, now this.Â
 @kinison I fail to see what the acts of a few bad apples have to do with what you just posted.
 @Zoso  @kinison Yes, a hundred bad apples doesn't spoil ... oh wait. Just one more reason to get everyone home from the Middle East. We won't have to recruit the scum of the earth to fight our wars for us.
So much for good citizenship, apparently that is too much to ask.Â
Hopefully they are able to identify the other victims.