Staff Report

 ANGOLA —  On Sept. 14, detectives with the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICACTF) arrested a Steuben County man on alleged charges of child exploitation, possession of child pornography, and a weapons offense.

Joseph McDowell

On July 27, the Indiana State Police ICACTF received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip led to a search warrant being served on a residence in the 4000 block of North CR 450W in Angola by the Indiana State Police with assistance from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department.

Joseph McDowell, 38, was arrested and taken to the Steuben County Jail on preliminary charges of two counts of child exploitation under 12 years of age, both level 4 felonies; five counts of possession of child pornography under 12 years of age, all level 5 felonies; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony.

Anyone with information related to cyber-crimes against children are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or visit the NCMEC website at http://www.missingkids.com/cybertipline.

The Indiana ICACTF was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department and Troopers from the ISP Fort Wayne Post.