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Former Scout Leader Accused of Child Porn

By Brian Hagen

09/26/2017

(KAIR)--A former Saint Joseph, Missouri Boy Scout Leader is accused of distributing child pornography online.

According to a press release from Tom Larson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, 45-year-old Michael Goeller was charged in federal court in a criminal complaint filed under seal Thursday.

The complaint was unsealed and made public following Goeller's arrest Monday.

The press release, citing an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, says the investigation began in February after an Arkansas law enforcement officer downloaded a video file through a peer-to-peer file-sharing network later linked to Goeller's computer.

A search warrant was executed September 20 at Goeller's Saint Joseph apartment where a laptop computer and other digital devices, including those used for storage, were seized.

Although a full forensic examination is pending, the press release states that “a digital forensic preview tool was utilized on the laptop and indicated at least 10 images of child pornography and other files named with terms associated with child pornography.”

The affidavit states that after the search warrant was executed, “investigators learned that Goeller had made contact with a local priest to confess to child pornography having been found on his computer. Goeller also immediately resigned as an assistant scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America.”

Goeller remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

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