A Plymouth man was arrested on a child exploitation charge last Friday.
According to the Plymouth Police Department, around 2:30 p.m. on November 9th, 34-year-old Matthew Miley was arrested at his Washington Street residence. Police say he was transported to the Marshall County Jail where he was given a $100,000 bond.
According to the affidavit of probable cause provided through the Marshall County Prosecutor’s office, Miley was previously convicted of child molesting in 2004.
The affidavit also states that on Monday, November 5th an officer from the Bremen Police Department alerted the Plymouth Police Department about a possible child molesting case that was occurring or had occurred in the Plymouth area. The Bremen Police officer had apparently received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The affidavit reveals that a series of interviews conducted with Miley and the other individuals involved determined that no molestation had taken place in this case. However, during the interview, Miley evidently admitted that he had child pornography on his laptop but said he recently deleted it.
Authorities report that after the interview, Miley gave police his laptop computer and cell phone and provided them with the password to the computer. The items were taken back to the Plymouth Police Department and entered into evidence and a search warrant was applied for.
On Wednesday, November 7th a search warrant was signed and granted by Judge Robert Bowen of Marshall County Superior Court I.
According to the affidavit, the electronics were taken to the Bremen Police Department the following day where they were examined by the officer who initially alerted Plymouth PD about this case.
During a triage of the laptop, the examiner apparently uncovered numerous sexually explicit images and child pornography. The officer allegedly found an excess of 1,100 images of pre-pubescent females that appeared to be under the age of 14, with the youngest child around the age of 5.
The suspect’s cell phone reportedly contained several images of teenage children posing fully nude, sexually and fully clothed as well as some in bathing suits.
The affidavit, which is dated on Thursday, November 8th, states that a full forensic examination will be completed.
Miley was subsequently arrested the next day on the Level 4 Felony charge of child exploitation.
