SEX OFFENDER ARRESTED ON CHILD PORN CHARGES

     
                        Steven D. Aldridge

     A sex offender registered with the Sheriff's Office was arrested this morning, July 23rd, following an investigation into a complaint that he had child sexual abuse material on his cellular phone.

     A deputy took a report the yesterday evening from a vehicle dealership in West Plains, Missouri reporting that an employee there observed what was believed to be multiple images of child pornography on the cell phone of STEVEN D. ALDRIDGE, a registered level 2 sex offender.  

     Deputy Tanner Anderson, who is the registration coordinator for the Sheriff's Office, went this morning to the residence of STEVEN ALDRIDGE.  A person at the residence told the deputy that ALDRIDGE was at work at a Mountain Home restaurant and that he had purchased a vehicle in West Plains.  Deputy Anderson then proceeded to that restaurant and was able to make contact with STEVEN ALDRIDGE there, and a compliance check was then conducted.  This involved verifying all information that ALDRIDGE had provided to the Sheriff's Office during his registration such as residence, contact information, vehicle information, and other required and pertinent information including social media accounts.  

     Deputy Anderson obtained consent to search ALDRIDGE'S cell phone.  He found multiple installed social media applications, including TikTok, Instagram, Meetup, WhatsApp, X, Snapchat, and Cash App, which were not consistent with the information ALDRIDGE had previously supplied.  Deputy Anderson also observed multiple images and files that appeared to depict prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults.

     ALDRIDGE was taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff's Office to be interviewed.  During the interview, ALDRIDGE acknowledged to Investigators that they would find hundreds of such pictures and videos on his device.

     STEVEN ALDRIDGE was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center on charges of:

Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Reporting and Registration Requirements - Felony
Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material - Felony

     Additional charges or counts are expected to be filed at the conclusion of the investigation.  ALDRIDGE has been released after posting $25,000 bond on these charges, and he will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on August 17th.  If additional charges are subsequently filed, then an additional bond amount would be required for continued pre-trial release.  

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff