DATE: August 12, 2024
SUBJECT: Deputies Arrest Suspect for Possession of Child Pornography
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-NR-0812
CONTACT: Lt. Doug Daza
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an Evansville man on a warrant for Possession of Child Pornography following a lengthy investigation by Sheriff’s Office detectives. Michael Frederik Borman was arrested at his northside residence on a warrant charging him with ten counts of Possession of Child Pornography as Level 5 felonies. Following his arrest, the residence was secured and a search warrant was obtained for the residence. Detectives are currently executing the warrant.
The investigation began approximately one year ago with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC is a private 501(c)3 organization with Congressional authorization to assist law enforcement in efforts to identify victims of child pornography and child exploitation. NCMEC does not conduct investigations and forwards any reports to law enforcement for review. In this instance, NCMEC provided the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office with information that a possible image of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) had been uploaded to a specific IP address located in our jurisdiction.
Sheriff’s detectives reviewed the image and confirmed the image was Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) depicting a prepubescent child. An investigation was initiated which included obtaining the subscriber information for the IP address. These investigations can take considerable time as it involves issuing subpoenas to companies who are responding to similar requests from agencies throughout the country. Investigators were able to identify Borman as a possible suspect and led to a search warrant being obtained and served on his residence in late March of 2024. Detectives seized approximately 70 devices including laptops, flash drives, cell phones, computer towers, hard drives and tablets.
Search warrants were obtained for each of these devices and detectives began a forensic review of the all the data stored within them. Detectives painstakingly reviewed approximately 40 terabytes of data and over 2.8 million images. Over 1000 images of children from toddlers to teens of both sexes appear to be clear-cut images of child pornography and approximately 10,000 more images are age-difficult in that it cannot be clearly determined that the child in the image is under the age of 18. Many of the other images found clearly depict Borman himself and, while he is not found to be interacting with children or anyone else, they are clearly pornographic in nature and strengthen the belief that the devices seized are in fact, Borman’s property.
Detectives obtained the warrant and, while it charges only ten counts, more charges are expected. Additional devices including a cell phone and computer were present in the residence when Borman was arrested and led to the application for a search to seize any such devices. Search warrants for devices seized will be sought and should CSAM images be found; additional charges will be filed.
Borman was brought to the Sheriff’s Operations Center. Detectives attempted to interview him however he declined to speak without having a lawyer present. Borman was then booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail. His bond was set by a judge at $5,000.00 cash only and he should make an appearance in court tomorrow.
Arrested: Michael Frederik Borman, Evansville, age 63
Charges: Possession of Child Pornography – 10 Counts as Level 5 Felonies
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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