Two separate cases regarding the downloading of explicit material involving children were filed in Independence County Circuit Court this week.
Court records say one Arkansas State Police investigation was initiated in March 2020 after authorities received a Cyber Tipline Report that Google had forwarded to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in reference to apparent child pornography being downloaded.
Information in the report included an email address, numerous IP addresses, and approximately 300 downloaded images of child pornography downloaded to a Google Drive account along with 80 additional Cyber Tipline Reports related to or associated with the listed email address and Google Drive account, court documents say.
The court information notes that after authorities were granted access to records related to the listed IP and email information forwarded from the NCMEC, a warrant was executed to search the residence of Aaron L. McKenzie (pictured above), 30, of Batesville.
Evidence seized from the search included a cellular phone, a computer tower, and six compact discs, according to the affidavit for warrant of arrest.
The affidavit said McKenzie stated to authorities in a post-Miranda interview that he “did in fact download and view child pornography” on his cell phone and that his desktop computer seized from his residence as evidence also contained child pornography.
According to the affidavit, McKenzie is facing 35 counts of unlawfully distributing, possessing, or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony. He was booked into the Independence County Jail Thursday on a $100,000 bond.
The second case was also initiated by state police based on another Cyber Tip Report the NCMEC received from Google.
According to the affidavit for warrant of arrest, information in the report contained the suspected individual’s mobile phone number, email address, multiple IP addresses, and approximately 99 “explicit pornographic images of minor females.”
Authorities confirmed the listed phone number belonged to Jonathon L. Reynolds (pictured above), 30, of Batesville, according to the court information.
After records were obtained from Google and Reynolds’ cell phone provider, the affidavit says authorities were able to determine Reynolds was within Independence County when 35 images of child pornography were downloaded, uploaded, or viewed on Oct. 16, 2019.
Reynolds was booked into the Independence County Jail on Monday, Sept. 14, on a $100,000 bond. He faces 35 counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
Images via Independence County Sheriff’s Department
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