A Boone County detention officer living in Fulton was arrested Wednesday for possessing and promoting child pornography, according to a press release from the Boone County Sheriff's Department.
Acting on information received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the BCSD's Cyber Crimes Task Force conducted an investigation into the downloading and sharing of suspected child pornography files. The investigation indicated Kevin Downey, 33, had downloaded the files.
On Wednesday morning at approximately 9:30 a.m., members of the Fulton Police, Callaway County Sheriff's Department and BCSD Cyber Crimes Task Force served a search warrant in the 900 block of State Street in Fulton. Officers located evidence of child pornography possession, according to the news release. Downey was taken into custody for possession of child pornography and promoting child pornography. Downey is being detained in the Callaway County Jail.
Downey was employed as a detention officer for six and half years. His employment with the Boone County Sheriff's Department has been terminated, the BCSD stated. The investigation is ongoing.
The BCSD Cyber Crimes Task Force includes investigators from the Boone County Sheriff's Department, the University of Missouri Police Department, the FBI and the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney's office. This project is supported by funds made available through the State of Missouri Cyber Crimes Grant administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety. The Cyber Crimes Task Force is part of the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.