Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander’s former top aide, who was charged with possessing and distributing child pornography, killed himself in Maryland on Thursday.
According to the Associated Press, Ryan Loskarn was pronounced dead at his parent’s home in Sykesville, Md., where he awaited trial.
“The cause of death is hanging,” spokesman Bruce Goldfarb told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. “It was determined to be a suicide.”
Loskarn was arrested at his home and arraigned on federal child pornography charges last month. He was ordered not to use the internet and given an electronic monitoring bracelet.
The 35-year-old began his career working for house lawmakers and eventually became Sen. Alexander’s chief of staff.
“For everyone involved, this is a sad and tragic story from beginning to end,” stated Alexander, who fired Loskarn when the allegations came to light.
If convicted, he would have been facing up to 10 years on the possession charge and up to 20 years on the distribution charge.