KSP Charges Union Co. Man With Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses
Morganfield, Ky. 3/29/21 — The Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch has arrested Cody Lewis, 20 of Morganfield, on charges related to child sexual abuse material. Lewis was arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect sharing images of child sexual exploitation online.
The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Morganfield, KY on earlier today. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination.
According to the report from KSP, Lewis is currently facing the following charges:
- ninety-nine counts of possession of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance;
- two counts of promoting a minor under 16 in a sexual performance;
- one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument 1st degree.
The charges of possession of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance are Class-D felonies punishable by one to five years in prison. The charges of promoting a minor under 16 in a sexual performance are Class-B felonies punishable by ten to twenty years in prison. The charge of criminal possession of a forged instrument 1st degree is a Class-C felony punishable by five to ten years in prison.
Lewis was lodged in the Webster County Detention Center and police say the investigation is on-going.
The Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is comprised of more than twenty-six local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The mission of the ICAC Task Force, created by the United States Department of Justice and administrated by the Kentucky State Police, is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations.
The support provided to state and local law enforcement agencies encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education. The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.
-HCWatchNews
