Former Harford County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sentenced to 36 Years for Sexually Exploiting Two Children

Baltimore, Maryland - A former Harford County Sheriff's Office detective learned his fate in federal court today, in connection with child sex exploitation crimes.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Ryan Christopher Hall, 51, of Woodstock, Maryland, to 36 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material. Hall, who pled guilty to these charges in December 2025, must also register as a sex offender for life.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Maryland; Carroll County State's Attorney Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr.; Sheriff James T. DeWees, Carroll County Sheriff's Office; and Sheriff Jeff Gahler, Harford County Sheriff's Office.

According to court documents, before May 2017, Hall, who served as a detective for almost 30 years, sexually abused two minor children for at least three years. By May 2017, and through October 2024, Hall sexually exploited the two minor children by capturing explicit images and videos of them by using a surreptitious camera that he installed. Hall is facing related charges for child sexual abuse in the Carroll County Circuit Court.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. Learn more about Internet safety education by clicking on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.

Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuseLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters. Learn more about Know2Protect at www.dhs.gov/know2protectLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office Special Victims Unit, and Carroll County Sheriff's Office Crimes Against Children Unit for their combined effort and work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-mdLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #