The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

November 6, 2009

Jasper man accused of online trafficking in child pornography

By Jeff Lehr

jlehr@joplinglobe.com

A Jasper resident has been charged in federal court with receipt and distribution of child pornography over the Internet.

Documents filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield show that Donald L. Zaerr, 58, was charged with the offense following a search of his home Thursday by state and federal authorities.

Members of the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and a special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement seized 12 computers, four thumb drives, 28 computer disks and two notebooks from Zaerr’s home at 417 N. Main St. in Jasper.

The search warrant was obtained based on information developed by Joplin Police Department cyber crimes Detective Chip Root. A probable-cause affidavit filed by an ICE special agent states that Root located extensive child pornography files at a Web address Oct. 7 and eventually traced the address through an Internet provider to Zaerr’s home.

According to the affidavit, the Web address was leased to Zaerr’s deceased father.

Zaerr allegedly told them that he had been viewing child pornography for the past 10 years and that he had saved somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 images on computer hard drives.

Zaerr allegedly admitted that several of the computers seized from his home contained a large number of images and that he had posted such images on the Internet where others could obtain them. The affidavit states that images found by investigators showed children as young as 1 year old being subjected to sexual acts by adults.

Text Only
Joplin Metro
  • Ruby-Sapp-obit.jpg Longtime Democrat dies at 81

    Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

    August 9, 2010 1 Photo

  • Motivational speaker offers free marriage course

    Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief. 

    January 12, 2012

  • District sends faculty, administrators on site visits

    With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

    January 11, 2012

  • 011012 Jop HS mural1_72.jpg Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated

    A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

    January 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • Carl Junction chamber creating new committees

    The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

    January 9, 2012

  • Body of missing Joplin man found

    The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

    January 3, 2012

  • Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant

    The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

    October 21, 2011

  • Joplin shooting victim’s name released

    The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

    October 21, 2011

  • Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments

    Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

    October 21, 2011

  • Extreme Makeover releases names of families

    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

    October 19, 2011

Facebook
Poll

Will the state’s decision not to help fund individual storm shelters following the May 22 tornado keep you from building one?

Yes.
No.
     View Results
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Facebook
Poll

Will the state’s decision not to help fund individual storm shelters following the May 22 tornado keep you from building one?

Yes.
No.
     View Results
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
NDN Video
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East 2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3% Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths 'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy? Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
House Ads