Polo man arrested at Lake Viking Security Office for promoting child pornography
Feb 27, 2019 | Community News |
Jay C. Guhlke, 33, Polo, was arrested Feb. 22 for promoting and possession of child pornography, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigative Unit. The Patrol was assisted by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the probable cause statement filed by the Highway Patrol, the HP investigator downloaded a pornographic video file from an IP address which was registered to Mid-States Service of Grundy County. Mid-States responded to a court-ordered subpoena indicating the IP address was being used at the account of the Lake Viking Security Office in Daviess County. The investigator downloaded the same video file from a device at an IP address being used at the home of Guhlke in Polo.
On Feb. 22, investigators executed a search warrant at Guhlke’s residence located on South Highway 13 in Polo. As a result of their search, investigators seized child pornography and computer equipment. While the search was being executed at Guhlke’s residence, additional officers located Guhlke at his place of employment, the Lake Viking Security Office.
Investigators executed a second search warrant on electronic equipment, which was on his person. As a result of their search, additional child pornography and computer equipment were seized. Guhlke was arrested and transported to the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail.
During a post-Miranda interview, Guhlke admitted he uses BitTorrent software to download files showing child pornography. He admitted to having sexual contact with at least three children while he was an adult. He admitted that in the past seven years at his home near Polo he had sexual contact with a female child around age 10, and he recorded himself making the sexual contact.
The Daviess County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Guhlke with promoting child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. His bond has been set at $100,000.
The Division of Drug and Crime Control encourages Internet users to report promptly to the Patrol or local law enforcement anyone who attempts to engage in unwanted, inappropriate, or sexualized communications with children. The Digital Forensics Investigative Unit is partially funded by the Missouri Department of Public Safety State Cyber Crime Grant and the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
