A Columbus man faces preliminary felony charges of child exploitation and possession of child pornography after an investigation by the Indiana State Police led to his arrest Tuesday.
Detectives with ISP’s Internet Crimes Against Children and Cyber Crimes Units, with the assistance of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, arrested James G. Crouch, 24, while serving a search warrant yesterday.
The investigation began in January after ISP received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Findings led to a search warrant, which was carried out yesterday in the 2200 block of Sims Court in Columbus.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Crouch was arrested on a Level 5 felony charge of child exploitation and Level 6 Felony charge of possession of child pornography.
Crouch was incarcerated at the Bartholomew County Jail pending his initial appearance in the Bartholomew County Circuit Court.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force members assisting the Indiana State Police in the investigation were Special Agent Todd Prewitt, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Officer Lachelle Maurer, Martinsville Police Department, and Detective Jonathan Muscato, Bloomington Police Department.
The Indiana State Police continues to pursue those who choose to prey on and commit crimes against children. Anyone with information on ongoing crimes associated with missing or exploited children are urged to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Tipline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
