A 43-year-old master firefighter is being held without bond after being arrested on child pornography charges in Hanover.
Brian Godfrey Martin, of Mechanicsville, landed on authorities’ radar after Hanover investigators received a tip last July from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. That information suggested an individual in the county was possibly in possession of child sexual assault material (CSAM).
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HCSO said a thorough investigation identified Martin as the suspect. He was arrested on July 15, 2025.
Martin is charged with 1 count of possession of the child porn and 7 counts of child porn (2nd or subsequent offense) as well as 1 count of distribution of child porn and 2 counts of distribution of child porn (2nd or subsequent offense).
Hanover’s Sergeant Steve Wills explained the charges for “2nd or subsequent” are not due to prior convictions but instead indicate offenses on multiple dates.
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“During the course of the investigation, investigators determined there were numerous dates CSAM was downloaded or disseminated by the suspect. We consider the first date as the first offense, and everything after carries the designation of 2nd or subsequent offense. Overall, this is our first encounter and investigation with Mr. Martin,” said Wills.
Henrico County Fire Chief Jackson Baynard issued a statement confirming Martin is a master firefighter who has been employed with Henrico since 2012 and was most recently assigned to Short Pump.
Baynard said Martin has been suspended without pay for these charges, and the Division of Fire’s Professional Standards unit will conduct an independent investigation into matters associated with his employment.
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