October 4, 2012

Augusta man faces child pornography charges

By Craig Crosby ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- A city man who teaches martial arts to children was arrested Tuesday on child pornography charges.

Wade Hoover, 34, was arrested after an investigation by state and federal agencies and charged with possessing sexually explicit material, said Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland.

Investigators believe at least one of the victims is from Maine.

Hoover was being held at the Kennebec County jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail. McCausland said the investigation is ongoing and more charges are anticipated.

Hoover was arrested Tuesday morning at his Bangor Street office at National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine. He is listed as a veterans support coordinator on the group's website.

McCausland said Hoover used NAMI's Internet connection to distribute child porn. NAMI officials were unaware of his activity and have cooperated with the investigation, McCausland said.

Hoover is the owner and chief instructor at Koshowarrior's Martial Arts and the United Martial Arts academies in Lewiston, where he teaches children as young as 3, McCausland said. He is a former instructor at the United Martial Arts Academy in Augusta.

According to Hoover's Facebook page, he is a 1995 graduate of Hall-Dale High School in Farmingdale.

Members of the State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency went to Hoover's office Tuesday morning after getting a tip, McCausland said.

"Investigators found dozens of images of child porn on his computer and believe at least one of the children is from Maine," McCausland said.

Craig Crosby -- 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

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