BOLLINGER COUNTY, Mo. -- A two month investigation in Bollinger County resulted in the arrest of a man who now faces 10 child pornography charges.
It started on December 1, 2023, when an investigator with Bollinger County Sheriff's Office received information from the FBI about an attempted child molestation report. The suspect was reported as Justin Welker of Sedgewickville.
Welker was accused of trying to arrange someone to travel to Bollinger County from out of the state to perform sexual acts on a child, according to the Bollinger County Sheriff's Office.
Welker was later found, his phone was seized and a search warrant was granted for the phone.
On February 8, 2024, results from the phone collected were provided to the sheriff's office, which allege "an abundance of child pornography images."
An arrest warrant for Welker was issued on February 9, 2024, along with a search warrant for Welker's home in Sedgewickville. The Bollinger County Sheriff's Office said they collected multiple items as evidence during the search.
On Wednesday, February 14, the sheriff's office said the FBI sent them more evidence involved in this case which was then sent to the prosecutor's office.
Welker was taken to the Bollinger County Jail and faces five possession of child pornography charges (Class D felonies) and five possession of child pornography film/video charges (Class B felonies).
His bond was set at $100,000 cash only.
The investigation is active and ongoing.Â
Welker is due in court on March 6, at 9 a.m. for a bond reduction hearing in front of Judge Alan Beussink.
