Harford County Sheriff’s Office

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A longtime sheriff's detective in Maryland who once investigated domestic violence cases for decades will spend years behind bars after admitting to sexually exploiting children and secretly recording them.

Ryan Christopher Hall, 50, of Woodstock, spent 27 years with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office before the feds slapped him with a 10-count indictment for allegedly abusing two minors between May 2017 and October 2024, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

On Monday, Dec. 8, authorities announced that Hall pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material charges in federal court.

According to court documents, from May 2017 through October 2024, Hall sexually abused two minor children. 

Authorities discovered that Hall installed cameras to produce child porn and possessed sexual abuse material. Additionally, Hall is facing related charges for child sexual abuse in the Carroll County Circuit Court.

The former detective—who specialized in investigating domestic violence cases—now faces the possibility of spending decades behind bars if convicted.

Each count of sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison.

Sentencing has been scheduled for March 2026. In addition to his prison term, Hall will also be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender.

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