MITCHELL – After receiving a Priority 1 cyber tip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) late Friday afternoon, members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a residential search warrant that resulted in the arrest of a Mitchell man on charges related to child molestation and child pornography.
Detectives arrested 30-year-old Bryan Fish, of Mitchell on the following charges:
- Four counts of 35-42-4-3 Child Molest a Level 1 Felony
- Four counts of 35-42-4-4 Production of Child Pornography: victim under the age of 12, a Level 4 Felony
- Six counts of 35-42-4-4 Distribution of Child Pornography: victim under the age of 12, a Level 4 Felony
- Six counts of 35-42-4-4 Possession of Child Pornography: victim under the age of 12, a Level 5 Felony
Detective Robert Whyte, of the Indiana State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, received two cybertip reports which indicated X, formerly known as Twitter, had filed the incident reports with NCMEC concerning an account holder and the possible production and possession of child pornography. NCMEC’s Priority 1 designation indicates a current or imminent risk to an individual. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a private, non-profit organization providing services nationwide to families and law enforcement officials relating to the prevention of abduction and sexual exploitation of children.
Detective Whyte reviewed the NCMEC cyber tip reports and obtained a residential search warrant. ISP ICAC detectives, digital forensic examiners, uniformed troopers, and officers from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department served the search warrant and identified the X account holder as Fish. Fish was then arrested.
During the investigation, Detectives and Whyte identified and rescued three children believed to be at imminent risk of harm.
Fish was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is a multiagency task force that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to exploit or entice children sexually, and the Indiana State Police oversees the task force.
The Indiana ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to 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, please get in touch with your local Indiana law enforcement agency.
ICAC Taskforce website: https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/.
