'Officer of the year' Michael Edwin Harding (left) was convicted of sexual crimes against children
In a move that is highly unusual for police officers accused of horrible crimes, he was sentenced to life in prison. His crimes were abominable: possession, distribution & production of child pornography, coercing a minor to engage in sexual activity - some of this while he was on midnight shifts in his patrol car. Court documents show Officer Harding spent time using an app called Kik messenger and frequented a chat room labeled #toddlerfuck.
When his home was raided, they found a thumb drive which contained such titles as "7yo girl fingered deep in both holes" and "6yo suck" both of which contained graphic sexual abuse of children by adults. That same thumb drive also contained pictures of Harding in his uniform, according to the criminal complaint.
Thankfully, he was arrested in September of 2015 and was sentenced last Monday to life in prison. However, it is pretty unusual for cops to get such appropriate sentences for their crimes. I wonder, did Officer Harding know too much? Were there other officers involved? There must be a reason for him to be sentenced to life, one can't help but wonder what it was. Especially when other officers receive a much lighter treatment for similar crimes.
