Warrenton man charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Kyle Owen Brennan, 40, of Warrenton, made an initial appearance in federal court today following his arrest on a charge of transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, in response to two CyberTipline Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Warrenton Police Department identified an account registered to Brennan that allegedly was used to upload suspected CSAM, including a morphed image that combined the face of a minor victim (MV1) and the naked body of a different minor girl. The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) then confirmed the identity of MV1, a 12-year-old girl.

On July 24, 2024, FCSO searched Brennan’s residence and electronic devices, including his cellphone. On Oct. 2. 2026, FCSO referred the investigation to the FBI, and on Nov. 13, 2026, the FBI reviewed a forensic extraction of data from the iPhone. FBI investigators observed approximately 88 images that appeared to depict minor victims, including prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct as well as an image depicting the sexual abuse of a toddler.

If convicted, Brennan faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeffrey L. Tyler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper is prosecuting the case.

This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-MJ-444.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.