Busy Week for Arkansas State Police Busting Child Porn Viewers

The Arkansas State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has been very busy this week, the following is the latest:

On March 26, 2024, in Calico Rock, Arkansas, agents from the ASP’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Izard County Sheriff’s Office carried out a search warrant at an address in the 200 block of Highway 56.

Following a collaborative undercover operation between the ASP’s ICAC Task Force and the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, a significant discovery was made at the residence of 55-year-old Mark Vangorder. Thousands of files containing Child Sexual Abuse Material were found, indicating they had been downloaded and shared from Vangorder's home.

As a result, Mark Vangorder was arrested and taken into custody. He has been charged with 100 counts related to Distributing, Possessing, or Viewing of Matter Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct Involving a Child. Vangorder's bond has been set at $250,000, and he is currently held at the Izard County Detention Center.

Earlier this week:

The Arkansas State Police (ASP) reported the arrest of two individuals from Benton and Texarkana in separate child pornography cases in Arkansas.

The investigation by the Arkansas State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force commenced on Thursday, February 29, targeting 27-year-old Gregory Lynn Westbrook. This action followed a cyber tip indicating Westbrook's involvement in the distribution of child sexual abuse materials.

Subsequently, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Agents apprehended Westbrook on March 8, transporting him to the Saline County Detention Center. He faces charges of 250 counts related to Distributing, Possessing, or Viewing of Matter Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct Involving a Child.

See more about these stories here.

In a distinct case, on Thursday, March 14, ICAC Task Force Agents in collaboration with the Texarkana Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence located in the 1400 block of Orleans Street in Texarkana. They confiscated electronic devices and other pertinent evidence from the dwelling of 38-year-old Jonathan McLean.

McLean was arrested at his workplace and subsequently taken to the Miller County Detention Center. He has been charged with 100 Counts of Distributing, Possessing, or Viewing of Matter Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct Involving a Child.

Those accused of a crime are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For more details, log on to the ASP website.

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