Baxter County authorities filed 72 felony counts against a Mountain Home man on Monday after 72 files of “child explicit” material were allegedly found in his Google storage account.
Josh D. Koger (pictured), 23, is accused of uploading the 72 files in August of 2020 after officials received a cyber tip via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Google, Inc., according to the court records filed Jan. 25 in Baxter County Circuit Court.
During post-Miranda interviews in late 2020, Koger told authorities he “might have done it [uploaded the images] but could not remember,” the arrest affidavit said.
After officials obtained a search warrant for his phone, the affidavit noted they discovered an email address connected to Koger that had been flagged for violating Google’s terms and conditions after the 72 images were uploaded.
Koger then told officers that someone had sent him the images in a chat room, and “he did not think he saved them to his Google drive,” the affidavit said.
The affidavit also noted that in 2018, a previous cyber tip on Koger regarding 31 images of explicit material involving children was forwarded to officials. An Arkansas State Police investigator interviewed Koger, who confessed to having the images. The investigator met with Koger and his parents at that time and explained that due to Koger’s mental condition, he would not be charged, according to the Jan. 25 court information.
According to the court documents involving the 72 counts, Koger has been released on his own recognizance providing he did not use the internet.
Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning by listening to Gary B. on Ozark Newsline, broadcast from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Add don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Remember: Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing.
