An active-duty, Coronado-based U.S. Navy SEAL accused of possessing dozens of images of child pornography pleaded guilty in Virginia Wednesday.
Petty Officer 1st Class Gregory Kyle Seerden, 31, of San Diego entered a guilty plea to one count of child pornography production.
Seerden's ex-wife previously told NBC 7 that this isn't the first time he's been under investigation for inappropriate contact with a minor. A 2014 case was closed because of insufficient evidence.
In another case, a woman accused Seerden of sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated at his hotel on the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLCFS). She reported the incident to a gate sentry on Jan. 17.
During that period, he was on temporary duty in Virgina while assigned to SEAL Team One based in Coronado, California.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents later seized Seerden's iPhone 7 as part of an investigation into the alleged sexual assault. As they reviewed its contents, they discovered images of child pornography.
The investigation alleged that 78 disturbing images were found on his phone, including some depicting bondage of children, according to legal documents.
Among other sensitive material, investigators came across a video that appeared to show a man masturbating next to a sleeping girl who looked about 5 or 6 years old, according to legal documents.
In his plea agreement, Seerden admitted to using his iPhone to record himself inappropriately touching a sleeping child in January 2017, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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Seerden was then extradited to Virginia in April, according to the District Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 to 30 years. His sentencing is currently set for Jan. 18 at 2:30 p.m. in Norfolk Courtroom 4 before District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
