SOUTH SHORE, KY — The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crime Branch located and arrested James E. Stockham, 33, on charges related to a child sexual abuse material investigation. Stockham was located, interviewed, and arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation.
The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect sharing sexually explicit images of juveniles online. The investigation resulted in executing a search warrant at a residence in South Shore on August 25, 2022. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination. The investigation is still ongoing.
Stockham is currently charged with:
- 20 counts of possessing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance
- 1 count of distributing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance.
These charges are Class-C felonies punishable by five to ten years in prison.
Stockham was also charged with:
- 1 count of a sexual crime against an animal.
This charge is a Class-D felony punishable by one to five years in prison. Stockham was lodged in the Greenup County Detention Center.
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 administered 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. This support 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.
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