San Diego Deputy Public Defender Charged With Possessing, Distributing Child Porn

Lawyer once served as the top manager for the county's juvenile branch of public defense

A deputy public defender who once served as the top manager for San Diego County's juvenile branch has been arrested and charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.

David D. Lamb, 44, faces two federal charges alleging that on at least two separate occasions, he had possession of child porn and tried to distribute the material to others as part of a file-sharing program, according to court documents obtained by NBC 7.

He appeared in federal court in Santa Ana on Thursday.

Prosecutors said federal agents first came across an encrypted online social media platform in late 2014 that allowed users to trade child pornography photos and videos.

They traced an IP address to Lamb’s computer at his Mission Hills apartment, court documents allege.

After serving a search warrant in September 2015, agents found 847 child porn images and hundreds of videos on his computer and other devices, according to court documents.

Investigators also said they found online chat conversations between Lamb, who went by the pseudonym ‘sdattorney,’ and other users, where he requested specific types of child pornography.

Lamb has not worked at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office since September 2015, said Public Defender Henry Coker.

“To say the least, I am saddened by this development. I have great faith and confidence in our criminal justice system and will await the outcome of the process,” Coker said.

Lamb once defended Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, on a prior charge that he faced in San Diego.

Lawyers who worked with Lamb and residents at his apartment complex were shocked by the news.

"It's definitely unsettling," said one neighbor, who wished to not be identified. "I had no idea anything like that would be happening here."

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