Former Guantanamo Bay worker from Michigan busted with child porn Former Guantanamo Worker admits to buying child porn
Generic image of gavel and bond money from Canva (Canva Pro)
LANSING, Mich. – A 38-year-old man from western Michigan was sentenced for possessing more than 41,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to authorities , David Mark Bartels had admitted to buying collections of child pornography while he worked at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
An investigation of a five-terabyte hard drive seized from Bartels revealed tens of thousands of files within the folder “\NSFW\Nope\Dont open\You were Warned\Deeper.”
Bartels reportedly used the dark web to access images and videos of CSAM, including content depicting bondage, domination and sadomasochism.
Bartels pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of possession of child pornography by a person employed by the armed forces outside of the United States. He was sentenced Friday, June 13, to five years in federal prison.
Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
About the Author Dane Kelly headshot
Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories.
Detroit shooting, stabbing leaves community in shock ▶ 1:19
Detroit shooting, stabbing leaves community in shock
The hidden danger of that first call to your insurance company ▶ 0:46
The hidden danger of that first call to your insurance company
High Detroit taxes: Key questions for homebuyers ▶ 1:18
High Detroit taxes: Key questions for homebuyers
Chase ends with deputies killing unarmed driver ▶ 0:34
Chase ends with deputies killing unarmed driver
President Trump arrives at Detroit Metro Airport ▶ 0:45
President Trump arrives at Detroit Metro Airport
Zimmerman's reopens after viral pepper-spraying ▶ 0:59
Zimmerman's reopens after viral pepper-spraying
Video captures Detroit shooting suspect in action ▶ 0:24
Video captures Detroit shooting suspect in action
Mattel launches first Barbie with autism ▶ 0:22
Mattel launches first Barbie with autism
Michigan ties to U.S. Olympic figure skating team ▶ 1:30
Michigan ties to U.S. Olympic figure skating team
911 call from Sherrone Moore's wife after firing ▶ 1:58
911 call from Sherrone Moore's wife after firing
Maria Scott's quick thinking prevents school tragedy ▶ 1:08
Maria Scott's quick thinking prevents school tragedy
Detroit Mayor Sheffield formally takes oath of office ▶ 3:26
Detroit Mayor Sheffield formally takes oath of office
Romulus shooting suspect disrupts court, cusses out judge ▶ 1:02
Romulus shooting suspect disrupts court, cusses out judge
Oakland County man honored for life-saving rescue on Bush Lake in Holly ▶ 0:45
Oakland County man honored for life-saving rescue on Bush Lake in Holly
Ypsilanti standoff damages home, disrupts local services ▶ 0:43
Ypsilanti standoff damages home, disrupts local services
Cat filter disrupts Michigan court hearing ▶ 0:23
Cat filter disrupts Michigan court hearing
Hearing in Washtenaw County foster family killings ▶ 1:37
Hearing in Washtenaw County foster family killings
Acker's death ruled accidental; USPS safety questioned ▶ 0:44
Acker's death ruled accidental; USPS safety questioned
Detroit sees lowest murder rate since 1965 ▶ 0:37
Detroit sees lowest murder rate since 1965
Hearing on Mario Willis arson case continues ▶ 1:22
Hearing on Mario Willis arson case continues
They were filming inside a business. That led to a confrontation ▶ 0:36
They were filming inside a business. That led to a confrontation
Armed man arrested at Romulus Middle School ▶ 2:27
Armed man arrested at Romulus Middle School
US/Canada icebreaking effort aids Great Lakes ▶ 0:31
US/Canada icebreaking effort aids Great Lakes
3 Preventable Ways Insurance Companies Use to Deny Your Claim ▶ 0:51
3 Preventable Ways Insurance Companies Use to Deny Your Claim
Powerful winds cause Lake Erie to flee Ohio, Michigan ▶ 0:56
Powerful winds cause Lake Erie to flee Ohio, Michigan
Previous photo Next photo