Md. Gymnastics Instructor Charged With Distrubuting Child Pornography

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A respected Howard County gymnastics coach is behind bars, charged with some very upsetting crimes. Police say they found tens of thousands of images of child pornography at his home.

Investigator Mike Hellgren has reaction from a stunned community.

Paul Bollinger lived in Baltimore County and coached in Howard County. A special computer crimes unit of the Baltimore County police uncovered his large stash of kiddie porn.

"He's working with children. I'm just in total shock, that's all I can say," said his neighbor, Doreva Gregg.

Gregg has lived next door to 56-year-old Paul Daniel Bollinger for more than a decade and tells WJZ she never suspected he'd be charged with having tens of thousands of child porn images and videos. Police recovered them during a sting operation.

"I've always spoken to him. He seemed like a nice guy," Gregg said.

"In excess of 30,000 videos and still images of child pornography. In excess of thirty thousand," said Cpl. John Wachter.

Bollinger is not charged with producing child porn. Still, Cpl. Wachter didn't hold back when describing the horrifying discovery at his apartment.

"I've been in law enforcement for more than 20 years. This is, without a doubt, the most disturbing, sick thing that I have ever seen," he said.

Property records show Bollinger has lived in an apartment building in Windsor Mill since 2004. Authorities are looking for anyone who could have information on his activities.

"We definitely need to keep an eye out for our children," Gregg said.

Bollinger worked as a gymnastics coach at Top Flight in Columbia. Top Flight did not return our call for comment.

"There's nothing at this point to indicate any of the kids at Top Flight Gymnastics were victimized, that he has any pictures of them. However, this is very early on in the investigation and we have a lot of pictures to look at," Wachter said.

He remains behind bars. Police say there's nothing in his background that was suspicious.

"It's important to let everyone know that we have somebody in the position of public trust who is working with one of these places with children who is facing these charges," Wachter said.

If you have any information, please call police.