By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — A rural Neosho man has been charged with felony possession of child pornography after Newton County authorities allegedly found “hundreds” of images on his computer, the sheriff said Friday.
James W. Butler, 50, was arrested and charged Thursday with class B felony possession of child pornography.
Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said authorities were first notified that Butler might have pornographic images by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a nonprofit organization that seeks to prevent the abduction and sexual exploitation of children. The organization, according to its Web site, works with law enforcement to reduce the distribution of child pornography over the Internet.
The Sheriff’s Department then obtained a warrant and confiscated Butler’s computer, Copeland said.
“There were hundreds of child pornographic photos on (his computer),” Copeland said.
The department is working with federal authorities on tracing the source of the materials, although Copeland said they apparently originated in Europe or Asia.
Copeland called the images allegedly found on Butler’s computer the “most disturbing and deviant” his department had seen.
Butler has been charged in Newton County Circuit Court, and was in the county jail on $50,000 bond Friday.
Penalty
Conviction for a class B felony carries a prison term of between five and 15 years.
