Mark Barget, youth wrestling official, charged with child pornography

Fairfax County police have charged a youth wrestling official with possessing child pornography.

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(Photo: Fairfax County police via ABC 7 News)

Officers arrested 51-year-old Mark Barget at his Lorton home on Sunday following a three-month investigation. He is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.

Police said the investigation began when the Fairfax County Fire Marshals Office notified police of suspected child pornography observed inside a home on Barget's block.

"We would have never known if the house hadn't have burned down next to him," said neighbor Sonya Ohri.

Ohri says about a month ago she saw firefighters entering Barget's place after the apartment next door caught on fire.

Ohri told us, "And the reason they went in was that the house burned down, so they went into check the next house to make sure there was nothing wrong with it. And that's when they found all that stuff."

On that day, Ohri says, "They were taking tons and tons of boxes out of his house and he wasn't there."

An acquaintance tells ABC 7 News Barget works at Dulles for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

He also judges wrestling matches for middle school and high schools across Northern Virginia, police said. The Northern Virginia Wrestling Officials Association, which is contracted by the school districts, confirms Barget judged matches for the past eight years and he did perform skin checks on the students before they got on the mat but never received any complaints.

The association also says Barget has been suspended indefinitely, which is a relief to both parents and neighbors.

"Whenever there is someone like that the neighborhood should be informed," said neighbor Keith Oden.

A spokesman for Fairfax County schools says it sent a "no trespassing" letter to Barget, letting him know he is not permitted on school grounds. Loudoun County schools tells us they don't know if Barget refereed for them, but says it does require vendor certification that referees have no criminal activity on record.

Police ask anyone with "additional information" to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, go online to submit a tip at fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or text "TIP187" plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

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