BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A Baldwin County grand jury has indicted a 41-year-old Summerdale man accused of sexually abusing a child and possessing hundreds of artificial intelligence-generated images depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
Brandon Michael Fry faces an 11-count indictment: one count of sexual contact with a child less than 12 years of age and 10 counts of possession of child pornography. He has been held at the Baldwin County Corrections Center since his arrest on Sept. 23, 2025, according to jail records.
Fry is considered innocent until proven guilty.
How the case began
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Fry last year after the Summerdale Police Department alerted the sheriff’s office to an allegation involving a child. Investigators said the alleged victim accused Fry of touching her inappropriately while in a garage.
During the investigation, investigators said, Fry admitted to possessing several hundred AI-generated images of child sexual abuse material at the time of his arrest.
What the indictment says
The indictment returned by the Baldwin County grand jury includes 10 counts of possession of child pornography. According to the indictment, the images involved “virtually indistinguishable depictions” of an individual under 18 years of age engaged in sexual conduct.
That wording is significant. It reflects the way Alabama law addresses images that are computer-generated or created with artificial intelligence rather than taken of a real child. Under that language, an image can fall under the law if it is virtually indistinguishable from a depiction of an actual minor, even if it was generated by software.
The 11th count, sexual contact with a child less than 12 years of age, relates to the alleged abuse reported to Summerdale police.
The growing challenge of AI-generated abuse material
The case highlights a challenge law enforcement agencies across the country are increasingly confronting: the use of artificial intelligence tools to create realistic sexual images of children.
Child safety advocates and prosecutors have warned that AI-generated abuse material is not a victimless crime. The images can normalize the sexual exploitation of children, can be used to groom or extort victims, and are sometimes created using images of real children. They can also make it harder for investigators to identify and rescue real victims by flooding the internet with additional abusive content.
In response, lawmakers in Alabama and many other states have moved in recent years to make clear that creating or possessing computer-generated sexual images of children is a crime, in addition to longstanding laws against material involving real children.
What a grand jury indictment means
In Alabama, felony cases are presented to a grand jury, a panel of citizens that reviews evidence from prosecutors to decide whether there is enough to formally charge a defendant. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. It means the case can proceed to circuit court, where the defendant will be arraigned, can enter a plea and can challenge the evidence against him.
Fry will now face the charges in Baldwin County Circuit Court, where the case will proceed toward arraignment, pretrial proceedings and, potentially, a trial or plea agreement.
A year in custody
Fry has remained in the Baldwin County Corrections Center since his arrest on Sept. 23, 2025 — just over one year. Defendants held before trial remain presumed innocent, and the length of pretrial detention depends on factors including bond, the pace of the investigation and court scheduling.
Where to report suspected abuse
Anyone who suspects a child is being abused, or who encounters sexual images of children online, is urged to report it:
- Emergencies: Call 911.
- Local law enforcement: Contact your local police department or the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
- Online exploitation: Report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org or 1-800-843-5678.
- Child abuse concerns: Contact the Alabama Department of Human Resources through your county DHR office, or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 for guidance.
Child advocacy centers in Baldwin and Mobile counties also work with law enforcement, prosecutors and child protective services to support children and families affected by abuse.
What’s next
No trial date has been announced. As the case moves forward in Baldwin County Circuit Court, Fry will have the opportunity to respond to the charges. Like every defendant, he is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.