Earl Gibson III/Getty ImagesFormer Glee actor Mark Salling was charged today in a federal indictment with receiving and possessing child pornography, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
"Those who download and possess child pornography create a market that causes more children to be harmed," U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker said in a statement. "Young victims are harmed every time an image is generated, every time it is distributed, and every time it is viewed."
The 33-year-old actor was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of child pornography following his arrest last December.
Last year, the Los Angeles Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Unit served a search warrant at Salling's Sunland, Calif., address and seized a personal computer—which, according to court documents, allegedly contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
One count against the actor involves a flash drive which allegedly contains images of a minor under the age of 12.
Should Salling be convicted of receiving child porn, he faces a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars.
This isn't Salling's first run-in with police. Back in early 2013, the actor's ex Roxanne Gorzela filed a lawsuit accusing Salling of sexual battery and assault during a March 2011 incident.
When the lawsuit was finally settled in March 2015, Salling was ordered by a judge to pay $2.7 million to Gorzela.
TMZ first reported the news.