Henrico woman defends fiance facing child porn charges - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

A Henrico man faces 10 felony charges for possessing and distributing child pornography, but his fiance is standing by his side.

Detectives say Troy McDowell, of Maplewood Road, was caught in an ongoing undercover operation targeting online sexual predators.

Teresa Schmidt, McDowell's fiance, defended him, saying he would never actually hurt a child. She says she knows he is mentally sick, but wants to support him. Schmidt says until McDowell's arrest, they were just a typical family.

"Just a normal family," says Schmidt. "Who actually still sat down at the table and had dinner together. Still went to church together."

All that changed Tuesday when authorities arrested McDowell. 

"He has in possession of at least 10 specific files of child pornography where the child was being actively sexually exploited or actively sexually abused," says Detective Kevin Hiner, with the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Schmidt says she was shocked and wanted answers from her fiance, so when she spoke to him on the phone she asked for an explanation.

"He never created anything of his own and that's what he kept telling me on the phone," says Schmidt. "He was like I would never actually do this. He couldn't he said I know that would hurt somebody."

Police confirmed that none of the reported victims were from the Richmond Metro Area. Schmidt and McDowell lived with her four children. She says none of them were molested.

"With his faith he couldn't harm a child, he's had these thoughts and he didn't know how to handle them and this is what it lead him to," says Schmidt.

Now, she hopes he'll get the help she thinks he needs.

"I do know that people are going to hear the things and think that he is a monster, but he is not. He is a family man."

And she says whatever comes, she'll be by his side.

"He kept apologizing when I talked to him and I want him to know that I forgive him and I love him. "Always will."

McDowell is due in court in Mid-September.

If you know anything about this crime, you can contact Detective Hiner at Kevin.Hiner@richmondgov.com

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