DC Prosecutor, Detectives talk joining ICAC Task Force

By: Corbin Lingenfelter, News Director

Dubois Co.- Dubois County Prosecutor Beth Schroeder, Investigator Rick Chambers and Jasper Police Detective Sergeant Greg Brescher shared more information on the ins and outs of working with the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.

Last week, the County Prosecutor’s office announced they, along with JPD Detectives Greg Brescher and Josh Greener had joined the ICAC in the fight against accused child predators after being alerted by the regional ICAC task force they were feeling overwhelmed.

“Several weeks ago there was an individual that was arrested here in Jasper,” said Investigator Chambers, “During my course of working that case with an ICAC detective, he mentioned that the taskforce, specifically in the southwestern portion of Indiana, was kind of overwhelmed. They weren’t investigating all of the tips that were coming in.”

Chambers, Det. Sgt. Brescher, and Det. Greener went to the task force training last week, although they have been investigating tips over the last month. 

“There’s a lot that’s involved with these tips,” Brescher said, “Each tip, there’s probably four or five search warrants that will be involved with this, which takes time.”

A majority of the tips involve child pornography, which is mainly a level five felony according to Prosecutor Schroeder. 

“A lot of these instances involve child pornography,” said Schroeder, “If someone is possessing and viewing child pornography, there's a likelihood there are children they are perpetrating on.”

Internet and phone service providers and social media platforms are required by law to report any suspected illegal use of their platforms involving child exploitation and pornography they see. These incidents are first sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and then emailed with all the information gathered to the local ICAC Task Force agency. 

Since its inception in the last few weeks, ICAC detectives have received six tips from the NCMEC in Dubois County. 

If you suspect someone may be exploiting children or know of a potentially exploited child, you can submit a report through the NCMEC website. You can also call your local law enforcement agency.