COLUMBIA CITY – On September 6, 2022, the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force initiated a criminal investigation after having received a transfer case from the Chicago Police Department ICAC, based on a tip received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an online account had been used for child exploitation.
During that investigation, information revealed the owner of the online account to be John Cowdin II, 42, of Columbia City. After reviewing the results of the investigation, the Whitley County Prosecutor’s office issued a warrant for Cowdin’s arrest. On Tuesday, April 18, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department arrested Cowdin II at his place of employment in Columbia City. He was arrested on seven counts of possession of child pornography, a Level 5 felony.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia City Police Department, and the Chicago Police Department (IL).
Anyone having any information related to internet crimes against children is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or make a report to NCMEC at https://report.cybertip.org/.
