On December 27th, 2024, detectives received a cyber tip reporting that a Dropbox account was uploading and storing inappropriate content. Over the next month, investigators gathered digital evidence and traced the activity to a specific residence. A search warrant was obtained and on January 23rd, 2025, detectives executed that warrant at the location. >> Who else is in the house? >> Police department. Everyone come outside. Do you hear that? >> No, I don't. >> Police department. Everyone come outside. >> Anyone else inside? >> That's all right. We'll get some juice. Step out. >> Time to come over here. >> All right. Stay here. Those will be a couple minutes. Then we'll bring it back inside. Stay here for now. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Where you got shoes at? >> What's that? Oh, the shoe rack is right there. >> Thank you, boss. >> Those yours? >> Yep. Are these yours? Let me search this real quick and then I'll have a Ring camera. Um, my phone's in my bedroom, of course, but I'm wondering if that saw anything. Might be able to help you guys. >> Do you know anything? >> No. >> There is one firearm in the house. Uh, on my nightstand facing the window, the one closest to the window. Uh, it's in a lock box. >> And then you have one in the closet as well. >> And one in the closet. Yes. >> So, there's two >> two firearms. Yes. In the house. >> Are they loaded? >> No. I'm Detective SC here with the Police Department. I'll explain everything in a sec. Okay. >> We're just going to clear the living room so we could have you guys take a seat on the couch and I'll talk with you guys. Okay, >> sounds good. Follow >> that off. >> So, like my partner explained, he's going to do all the talking with you guys. For right now, I just want you to sit there, okay? And then he's going to stand by you. Okay, >> sounds good. Okay. >> Is everything okay? >> Uh the detective uh Scratsky when he comes in, he'll he'll let you know what's going on. >> Can we just confirm like we're okay though? Like >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There there's no there's no danger out there. >> I'll introduce myself again. I'm Detective Scrazky. I know this is a shock to both of you, >> so I'll try to explain everything best I can. Are you guys the only people that reside here? Yes, >> we're the only residents. Yes. >> All right. >> That alarm was my alarm clock upstairs. I don't know if anyone >> Yeah. No, you're good. We'll we'll figure it out. >> How long have you lived here? >> Uh, we bought November 14th of last year, so a little over a year now. >> So, November, keep it 2024. >> 2023. >> No, 2023. He's right. It was right before the wedding. >> All right. And, uh, what internet service provider do you guys have? >> Xfinity. >> Comcast Xfinity. pretty much since you moved in. >> Yes. >> And uh what service do you have for your cell phone? >> Uh AT&T through my parents. I'm still on their phone. >> You're on their plan. And your >> uh I'm still on my parents. We have Verizon. >> Gotcha. So um what I do at the Algaman Police Department is I work internet crimes against. So I'll explain what that entails. Um that is usually when I receive a what's what's called cyber tip from a company electronic service provider um they'll say oh we located this on our platform we need you to investigate it and I'll look into that file legal process whether that's a search or subpoena >> and try and get more information >> okay >> I've been having really like like hacking stuff pop up >> Thomas that's what I'd like to talk with you about um is it okay while we have this discussion if it's in private if uh your wife maybe waits upstairs. >> That's okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I'll give you a copy of the search warrant. Ma'am, >> you can look that over if you'd like while you're waiting. >> And uh we'll probably just have another officer wait you in a separate room. Which room would you like to wait in? >> I guess my pleasure. Don't turn off the alarm. >> Okay. Yeah. Not >> Can I ask a couple questions? >> Yes. So, I know this is because he got hacked. I know that for a fact. So, what's all going to happen then? So, is he going to court for something? >> I'll explain that. Obviously, if that's the case, we need to discuss some things. >> You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to talk to attorney and have your attorney present with you while you're being questioned. Cannot afford to hire an attorney. One will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions and make any statements. Do you understand? >> I don't understand. >> Okay. Do you uh use any social media or anything? >> Uh yeah, like the usernames. >> Mhm. Uh capital ZF98. >> What do you use that for? >> Uh Steam and Discord. >> Uh do you use any social media? >> No, I got rid of it all. That's what I started seeing the weird stuff on. >> Uh explain that. Uh, so you know like the uh when you like go to search for something, there were getting like these weird creepy search results and then like the recommended feed was getting filled with all this crap and I wasn't the one that searched it. I don't look at that crap and I just said, "Okay, forget that. I'm done with all social media." I tried reinstalling it once with new profile, username, that sort of stuff, new password. Same [ __ ] started happening. So, I just deleted again and didn't like >> So, you said you noticed uh stuff coming up on your social media. >> Yeah. >> What kind of stuff? >> Like it was like like like gymnastics like it's gymnastics and I I I'm not searching for that [ __ ] So, I decided I'm not going to I'm going to delete the account and not have that uh I'm not going to be on that platform anymore. >> Okay. So, I'm going to preface what I say next with this and it's very important that you're honest. Um, so I' I've done a lot of these cases and I have people explain all types of things. They say, "I was looking at it out of curiosity. I've been hacked." But ultimately um those forensic uh examiners up there it's their job to look through computers, cell phones and they find what are called artifacts of of searches of programs. Um so they're deter able to determine what's installed on devices files people have been accessing their internet browsing history all that kind of stuff. Um so they're going to look through all that and what my suspicion is is that you've been downloading and saving it to Dropbox. And ultimately, they're going to determine the forensic artifacts associated with that. What I need you to do is to be honest because when it comes to this stuff, it does not look good when someone's lying about it. >> Okay? So, and I understand sometimes people have remorse. They're like, I've had this problem for a while. I'm trying to get help. Um, I just need to know what's going on. And I'll try to keep it as simple as I can and disclose as little as possible to her as I need to. Um, But I just need you to be honest. How long you been looking at? >> I guess so. When I was >> When I was a minor myself. >> When you were a minor. >> Yeah. >> When you first see that kind of stuff. >> When I do you remember what platform you saw that on? >> Usually people remember where they discovered stuff. We file service. First one was a kick. That was like a a mobile. >> Yeah. I've had cases from them. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We'll wait until she goes back in the room. Okay. >> Now, so it's a little bit quieter. Do you want to go sit at the dining room table? So ask you a couple other questions. >> Yeah. >> Have you ever produced chop? >> No. >> When you were telling me before those were hacked, is was that just a white lie? >> It's like 50/50. >> Okay. What's the youngest you've seen when viewing that stuff? And nothing surprises me. I mean, >> I I don't know. >> If you could estimate the youngest age of any saw on there, >> I couldn't tell you. >> Uh, probably younger than 13. Correct. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Gotcha. Um, do you prefer photos or videos? I was I was gonna say everyone's got a preference and I understand that I'm not asking you these questions to make you feel bad. Uh I'm just asking them because they're part of the procedure. Ask these type of questions. Okay. Um have you ever sought help for this? Not professional, but >> you've never seen a therapist and told a therapist or anyone about this? >> I've seen therapists, but not that it this hasn't been a discussion. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's usually something people keep to themselves and I understand why. Is it something you want to get help for? >> Yeah. I've been struggling with this. >> Um >> does anyone else know that you do this? Have you told anyone? >> She knows I have but not >> not this bad. >> She just thinks it's regular. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And you know that this type of stuff is illegal. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, did you feel like something like this might happen at some point in time? >> Okay. Did that cause you stress? >> Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure. When you view that kind of stuff, um, when do you view it? Is it like late at night when you're watch? >> Late at night. Um, I mean, I'm I'm Dude, I'm so addicted. I don't like the work bathroom. >> Okay. >> Like I'm addicted now. I need help. >> Gotcha. and we've got a social worker through our police department that can connect you with resources. So, um we'll try and get you the help you need. Okay. And she knows nothing about this. >> I think she suspects. >> Why do you say that? >> She's asked. >> Do you think did she ever locate stuff on your device? >> It's possible. >> I I don't know. >> Have you ever at no point in time? I mean like Snapchat maybe but that was like forever ago. Um >> how long ago was that? >> I really I really don't know. >> Okay. So you do use Snapchat to chat? >> Not anymore. No. >> Okay. Were you an adult when that occurred? >> Okay. How old was chatting with? >> I don't Was it a male or female? >> Female. >> Female. Okay. How old did she look? ODS her age was >> 10 to 12. I don't know. >> 10 to 12. >> Did she show you? >> Okay. And did you know that juvenile goes on? >> You met her online? >> How? >> Like gaming. >> Gaming on what game? >> That one was That one was Roblox. >> You met her on Roblox? >> Yeah. >> Um, did you meet juveniles on any other platforms besides Roblox and Tik Tok and Um, she said there's approximately three or four other girls, so four or five total. >> Did they all send you Are we going to find anything in that Dropbox account from your social media that you saved personally? >> No. >> Okay. um from personal interactions located on the bus. >> So, we are going to need to put handcuffs and uh take you outside. Okay. Can you hold us for a second? >> Yeah. >> Anything in these pockets? >> After investigators completed forensic examinations on all of his devices, the man was charged with 20 counts of possession of a moving depiction. He ultimately plead guilty and was sentenced on August 14th, 2025. His sentence included 30 days in jail with 2 days of credit time served, followed by 30 months of probation set to run from August 2025 through February 2028. He was also ordered to pay $4,000 in fines and assessments and was required to register as a offender. Shortly after his arrest, his wife filed for divorce in February 2025 and the dissolution of the marriage was finalized in April.