Wilmington security firm owner in court for child pornography charges

The owner of a private Wilmington security firm is expected in a New Hanover County court Monday.

A grand jury indicted Joe Guarascio on several child pornography charges in November. The charges include three counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and a second-degree count as well.

In the indictment, Guarascio is accused of producing pornography depicting a 17-year-old and receiving pornographic images of a 13-year-old. He was already charged with two counts of statutory rape. In all, he faces nine felonies.

Guarascio and his Inter-Pol Special Police Services have had legal troubles before, including convictions of impersonating a law enforcement officer and forgery.