He became famous playing a teenage bad boy who has had his share of troubles with the law. And sadly in what appears to be life imitating art, Former Glee Star, Mark Salling turned himself in to authorities on Friday due to a child pornography case.
The actor-singer was arraigned on charges of possessing and receiving child pornography. Last week he was indicted by a Grand Jury.
Salling pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court has restricted his internet usage as well as his ability to travel.
Judge Rozella A. Olivera ruled that he can be released after posting $150,000 which would include $100,000 of his own money. 33 year old Salling answered a few questions in front of the judge entered his plea, which caused a July trial to be set.
The actor was arrested last December at his home after a Police raid conducted by the Los Angeles Police department and federal agents in which they were able to seize his laptop, hard drive and flash drive.
Thom Mrozek, Spokesman for the US Attorney’s office said that investigators found an extensive collection of depiction of child abuse during a thorough search of Salling’s seized storage devices.
Prosecutors were initially pushing to have the actor held with no bail, but they reached an agreement with Alan Eisner, Salling’s attorney. The Lawyer also surrendered the Glee star’s passport during the course of the hearing.
The court has now ordered as a condition for his release, that his devices that are connected to the internet must be approved by federal authorities. He will have to wear a bracelet that monitors his location. He also needs to submit to drug testing.
If convicted, Salling could be facing could be facing a maximum of twenty years of prison time for each of the charges. Charges include use of the internet to obtain pornographic videos and images of young girls, and a second of possession of two videos, which also show young girls.