Man pleads not guilty to child porn, explosives charges
A Costa Mesa man has pleaded not guilty to possession of child pornography and explosives, court records show.
Baylor Maggenti, 66, entered his plea March 14 in Orange County Superior Court.
While investigating a report that he had multiple firearms in his home workshop, Costa Mesa police discovered Maggenti allegedly had 33 photos of girls who looked to be younger than 10 dressed scantily and posed in a sexually suggestive manner, court records show.
The additional felony charge for possession of child pornography was added March 14, said Orange County district attorney spokeswoman Farrah Emami.
He also faces one felony count each of intent to unlawfully make a destructive device, possession, selling or manufacturing a short-barreled shotgun, and possession of an assault weapon, court records show.
Police originally arrested Maggenti in December on suspicion of possessing materials needed to make pipe bombs.
Police were first notified that Maggenti allegedly had materials to make bombs three days after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The man who contacted police saw two large safes, one filled with a cache of handguns, silencers and an AK-47 assault rifle, at Maggenti’s home business at 1835 Whittier Ave., which is across from Whittier Elementary School, according to court documents.
The person said Maggenti, a veteran who had recently retired after decades in the military, suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, documents show.
A Chevy pickup bearing a handicapped placard was parked outside Maggenti’s unit in an industrial building recently. It also bore an Air Force reserve sticker on one side of the back window and another reading “Proudly We Serve United States Air Force” on the other side. Nearby business owners and employees described Maggenti as friendly but someone who kept to himself. A blue plaque labeled Maggenti’s unit but didn’t include any descriptions about what kind of business operated there.
He remains in Orange County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department records.
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