Child photographer admits to utilizing enterprise to entry kids; investigators seize 17,000 photographs

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ind. — An area and federal investigation into youngster intercourse crimes has led to the arrest of a photographer primarily based in Connersville, who admitted to utilizing his enterprise to achieve entry to kids.

According to courtroom paperwork, Mikkel Shepard has been preliminarily charged with Child Molesting (Level 1 Felony), 4 counts of Child Exploitation (Level 4, Level 5 felonies) and Possession of Child Pornography (Level 5 Felony).

Investigation, arrest

Police launched an investigation on Oct. 23 following a tip that was filed with the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children activity power. The tip was considered one of 15 complete cyber ideas that investigators decided had been linked to Shepard.

The tip claimed Shepard had youngster intercourse abuse materials in his possession and that he may very well be seen within the movies and pictures inappropriately touching and taking images of nude kids. Concern was additionally expressed that Shepard had potential entry to kids by means of his images enterprise.

One of the cyber ideas featured over 1,750 photographs and movies that detectives reportedly discovered on Sheppard’s Google Photos account, allegedly containing photographs depicting youngster sexual abuse.

Investigators additionally uncovered proof that a number of of the recordsdata had been probably captured on a Samsung Galaxy, with the GPS coordinates indicating that the pictures had been captured at a house positioned within the 500 block of Reid Street in Connersville. Other photographs that investigators positioned appeared to point out images of kids standing nude in a room.

“The room in which this was taken appears to resemble publicly available photos depicting Shepard’s residence,” courtroom paperwork mentioned.

Investigators recognized Shepard as the first suspect within the case after observing tattoos on his physique by way of publicly obtainable social media posts that appeared to match the tattoos that may be seen on a person who additionally seems within the CSAM recordsdata.

Investigators imagine Shepard took photographs of the kids as a part of his images enterprise, which incorporates images of babies that seem on Sheppard’s social media platforms.

Several of the recordsdata investigators collected for proof appeared to point out Shepard inappropriately touching the kids throughout picture shoots. Investigators mentioned different images had been taken in a altering room or lavatory after the kids had been swimming.

On Oct. 24, officers with the Connersville Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and Department of Homeland Security executed a search warrant on Sheppard’s residence.

The search concluded with Shepard being positioned underneath arrest and 16 units being seized for extra proof.

Shepard’s account

As a part of their investigation, investigators interviewed Shepard. Court paperwork reveal that Shepard reportedly admitted in the course of the interview that he was sexually interested in kids and that he did seize the photographs and movies of the kids. He allegedly mentioned that he struggled with sexual attraction to kids “for a long time.”

He additionally recognized eight kids who appeared within the photographs, who ranged between the ages of 5 and 9. He additionally instructed investigators that he had acquired and despatched CSAM materials by way of Telegram.

Police added that extra prices may very well be filed within the case as a result of “large amount” of proof they’ve to investigate. Online jail data point out that Shepard is at present being held with out bond within the Fayette County Jail.