A man who’s accused of using artificial intelligence to impersonate the principal of Pikesville High School must remain in custody until trial on new federal charges of sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography, a judge ruled Thursday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Erin Aslan concluded that there was no combination of conditions that could adequately assure the safety of the community. But she said she did not believe that Dazhon Darien was a flight risk.

Aslan repeatedly noted that the charges are only allegations. At the same time, she said, she found the nature and scope of the accusations “particularly troubling.”

“It is not just possession of images and videos,” Aslan said. “It is active solicitation of children to produce sexual images and videos.”

Plus, Aslan noted, there were “significant discrepancies” in the information that Darien and his mother, Tanya, provided to pretrial services officers. She was among several loved ones who attended the hearing to show support.

“Pretty much in every category, they don’t line up,” Aslan said.

Darien, 32, is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material and victimizing five children.

One teen told investigators that Darien paid him $5 to $50 for inappropriate chats, videos and pictures, starting when he was 15. Another reported that he met Darien — whom he knew as “Xavier” — at a hotel in Capitol Heights to engage in sexual activity when he was under 18.

Federal prosecutors allege that law enforcement has found files depicting eight additional people, writing in court documents that the “investigation into identifying these individuals is ongoing.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Goo asked a judge to detain Darien until his trial, citing concern for the safety of the community. She said she was also worried about “potential flight.”

Darien sexually exploited teen boys who were as young as 14, Goo said. He selected jobs that placed him in close contact with them.

Law enforcement, she said, found 20 additional sexually explicit videos in his possession that depict children as young as 4 or 5.

Online, Darien has used multiple names. And he has demonstrated sophisticated knowledge of technology — including AI, Goo said.

Though Darien reported that he has no income, he was receiving unemployment compensation in Maryland. Meanwhile, he was arrested with a card for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Texas, Goo said.

When pretrial services officers spoke with Darien, he told them that he split his time between Houston and New York, she said. Meanwhile, his mother could not provide a current address for him.

“He simply cannot be trusted in this case,” Goo said.

Even after law enforcement seized his electronic devices and filed charges against him, she said, Darien “simply didn’t stop.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Federal Public Defender Courtney Francik, Darien’s attorney, asked the judge to release her client on what she described as a “comprehensive set of conditions.”

Darien, she said, has no criminal record and there are no allegations that he sexually abused any of his students.

Francik proposed that her client could live with his mother. She and her husband agreed not to share the passwords to their internet, laptops and cellphones with Darien or leave him unsupervised.

Those measures would “effectively cut off Mr. Darien’s access to any internet-based technology,” Francik said.

Since his arrest, Darien has been in quarantine and confined to a cell for 23 hours per day, she said. Francik said her client has been depressed and experienced trouble eating and sleeping.

“Mr. Darien has every reason to comply with the release conditions,” Francik said.

Darien wore a maroon jumpsuit and a gray mask during the hearing and did not speak.

FBI special agents arrested Darien on Monday after he showed up to a motions hearing in Baltimore County Circuit Court, where he faced charges including disturbing school operations, retaliating against a witness and stalking.

Baltimore County Police allege Darien used AI to create a clip of Principal Eric Eiswert and led the public to believe that he made racist and antisemitic remarks. The audio spread on Jan. 17, 2024, across social media.

At the time, Darien was working as the athletic director at the high school.

Eiswert, police assert, told investigators that he suspected that Darien was behind the recording because there had been issues between them.

Detectives searched law enforcement databases and served subpoenas on Google, AT&T and T-Mobile. Police claim they tied Darien to a Gmail account that emailed the clip to teachers with the subject line “Pikesville Principal – Disturbing Recording.”

Baltimore County Public Schools suspended Eiswert and removed him as principal. He was later transferred to lead Sparrows Point Middle School in Edgemere.

Darien is being held in the Chesapeake Detention Facility, according to jail records.