London man accused of using messaging app to send, recieve ‘illicit’ material of children

LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — London police officials announced the August arrest of a man accused of distributing online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Thursday.

The London Police Department (LPD) posted on Facebook that on Aug. 12, Christopher Brock, 26, of London, was arrested on New Bethel Church Road after investigators traced activity from his IP address to a Kik messaging app. He was allegedly using this account to download, upload, and share CSAM.

Law enforcement had gotten a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NEMEC) reporting that a Laurel County IP address was being used to receive and send the illicit material on Kik.

Officers got a warrant to search Brock’s residence, where they found him in his bedroom with a Samsung smartphone that matched the phone named in a warrant to have been used to send and receive CSAM files.

He allegedly admitted to authorities that he had used the messaging app to share the illicit files, explaining to investigators how he searched for them.

Brock was charged with the distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under the age of 12 and possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under the age of 12.

He was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center on a $25,000 bond. He is due in court at 9 a.m. on Sept. 19.

The sexual exploitation investigation remains ongoing.