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PIERCETON - A Pierceton man was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 11:59 a.m. Tuesday for possession of child pornography and three drug-related charges.
Claude Mullins, 63, of 8923 E. CR 250S, Pierceton, is facing charges of possession of child pornography, a level 5 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor. Preliminary bond was set at $20,000.
According to a news release from the Indiana State Police, on Tuesday detectives with the ISP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrested Mullins on alleged charges of possession of child sexual abuse material and possession of drugs.
The investigation began when a tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip ultimately led to a search warrant being served on a residence in rural Pierceton.
As a result of the investigation, Mullins was arrested and transported to the Kosciusko County Jail.
The ISP was assisted by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office and the Howard County Sheriff’s Department.
The Indiana ICAC Task Force is a multiagency task force led by the ISP. The task force serves to conduct investigations into reports of child sexual exploitation, enticement by predators and the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material; apprehend and prosecute offenders; and educate the public on how to prevent online child victimization, according to the ISP news release. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators from around the state evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.
The Indiana ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website. To report a crime with your child as a victim involving the internet or other electronic means, contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency. To learn more about the efforts of the Indiana ICAC, visit internetcrimesagainstkids.com
