ISP: MITCHELL MAN ARRESTED ON CHILD SEX ABUSE-RELATED CHARGES

Mitchell- After receiving a Priority 1 cybertip 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 which resulted in the arrest of a Mitchell man on charges related to child molest and child pornography.

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 cybertip 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 Bryan Fish, 30, of Mitchell. Fish was arrested on the following charges:

• 4 counts of 35-42-4-3 Child Molest a Level 1 Felony
• 4 counts of 35-42-4-4 Production of Child Pornography: victim under the age of 12, a Level 4 Felony
• 6 counts of 35-42-4-4 Distribution of Child Pornography: victim under the age of 12, a Level 4 Felony
• 6 counts of 35-42-4-4 Possession of Child Pornography: victim under the age of 12, a Level 5 Felony

In the course of the investigation, Detectives and Whyte identified and rescued three children who were believed to be at imminent risk or harm. Fish was transported to the Lawrence County Jail where his custody was transferred.

The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is a multiagency task force that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children, 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 contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency.

ICAC Taskforce website: https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.