BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AUTHORITIES SAY A COLORADO COUNTY EMPLOYEE ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT A SHERIFF’S OFFICE POSSESSED THOUSANDS OF CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION FILES AND ATTEMPTED TO GENERATE MORE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE… AND HE NOW FACES THREE FELONY COUNTS FOLLOWING HIS ARREST IN WYOMING.
Charles Howard Baker, 39, worked for Larimer County.
He was assigned to support the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office as a radio technician.
The case began with a proactive peer-to-peer file-sharing probe.
Authorities said the suspect IP address initially traced back to a home in Wellington, Colorado.
Investigators later learned the potential suspect was a Larimer County employee assigned to support the sheriff’s office.
Because of that assignment, the Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab took the lead on the case to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
On June 2, a search warrant was served at Baker’s home.
Investigators seized numerous computers and electronic devices during the search.
Baker was placed on paid administrative leave that same day.
A forensic examination of the seized devices followed.
According to investigators, forensic examination of the devices uncovered thousands of child sexual exploitation images and videos.
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And authorities said they found what appeared to be attempts to use artificial intelligence to generate additional child sexual exploitation material through explicit prompts.
That digital evidence led investigators to obtain an arrest warrant.
The warrant was issued for possession and attempted production of child sexual exploitation material.
Baker was subsequently located at a campground outside Lander, Wyoming.
On Aug. 5, Baker was arrested in Wyoming on the warrant.
The arrest was carried out by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.
He faces three felony counts.
The charges include sexual exploitation of a child involving possession of videos.
The charges also include attempted production of child sexual exploitation material.
The third count is possession of images.
Baker is charged, not convicted.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
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