Isaac Matthew Nielsen will remain in federal custody throughout the proceedings in his child sexual abuse material case. 

Court records show that United States Magistrate Judge Brian S. Meyers granted the government’s motion for detention. 

The judge found that the government established by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions would reasonably assure the safety of the community if the defendant were released before trial.

Nielsen, a former Roanoke Rapids police officer, was remanded to the custody of the attorney general following the hearing in Raleigh. 

The court’s key findings for detention include the nature of the offenses charged, which involve minor victims.

While Nielsen’s attorney successfully rebutted the presumption for detention, the court determined detention was necessary for the following reasons:

The weight of evidence against him is considered strong.

He faces a lengthy period of incarceration if convicted — from 5 to 30 years.

The charges specifically involve a minor victim.

The court concluded that the defendant’s release would pose a serious danger to others or the community.

The court ordered Nielsen to be held in a corrections facility separate, to the extent practicable, from persons awaiting or serving sentences. 

He must also be afforded reasonable opportunities for private consultation with his defense counsel.

The detention hearing came two days after he was indicted Tuesday for distribution of two video files which are currently sealed, according to electronic court records.

Count one alleges that he sent a video file to an undercover agent on May 23, while count two alleges a second video file was sent on May 26.

Nielsen was dismissed from his job on December 10, the city said Wednesday.

The next step in the case will be an arraignment, tentatively scheduled for February 10 in New Bern.

According to the complaint  the investigation originated from a tip by a foreign law enforcement agency regarding a user on the porn website Motherless operating under the name ****meat22.

An undercover officer posed as a single mother on the platform and engaged in chats with ****meat22, who was later identified as Nielsen.

In these chats, Nielsen reportedly said his favorite age is 10 to 15 and expressed sexual interest in the undercover agent’s fictitious 10-year-old daughter.