Sexting Arrest Latest Embarrassment For Secret Service

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Yet another public black eye for the Secret Service. This time, it's an agent from Maryland at the center of the scandal. The 37-year-old is arrested for sending naked pictures to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

Derek Valcourt with more on the allegations against that agent.

The Secret Service has been taking a lot of hits lately. Now, one of their own is facing some possible jail time.

Thirty-seven-year-old Secret Service Agent Lee Robert Moore of Church Hill, Maryland thought he was texting and communicating with a 14-year-old girl. In reality, the sexually explicit messages and photos he sent were going to an undercover Delaware state police detective.

"That kind of conduct has no place in any kind of job, let alone one where someone's involved in public trust," said Rep. Chris Val Holland, (D) Maryland.

Moore faces federal and state charges. His attorney had little to say.

"The case has been transferred to Superior Court jurisdiction, and I have no further comment," said John Barber, attorney.

Moore's arrest is the latest in a series of embarrassing incidents for the Secret Service.

Last year, a man armed with a knife jumped a security fence, making it all the way into the White House. That came one year after a headline-grabbing prostitution scandal involving 11 Secret Service agents assigned to protect the president while he was on a trip to South America.

Earlier this year, a pair of off-duty Secret Service supervisors reported to be likely intoxicated drove through an active bomb threat scene at the White House.

An audit this year also found two agents asleep on the job.

"One bad apple can cause a whole organization to look bad," said Rep, Dutch Ruppersberger, (D) Maryland.

Congressman Ruppersberger is one of several in Congress who want to see more improvements in Secret Service performance.

"They have to evaluate their management style, what checks and balances they have and how they're holding people accountable," he said.

As for Agent Lee Robert Moore, the Secret Service says it takes these allegations extremely seriously and he was immediately placed on administrative leave.

According to court records, Moore confessed to having a sexual interest in 14-year-old girls.