Butler County Sheriff’s Office officials made the request that Fraley be held without bond and said they are continuing to investigate “hundreds” of images involving multiple police agencies. Middletown Municipal Court Judge James Sherron granted the request.
Fraley will be back in court Friday afternoon for the hearing on charges of trafficking in drugs, drug abuse meth and three counts of child endangering.
FULL REPORT
A Madison Twp. man faces child pornography charges in what Butler County’s sheriff said was one of the worst such cases his department had investigated in his memory.
Trevor Fraley, 24, was arrested on Nov. 13 in the 900 block of Crawford Street in Middletown. A bag was located next to where Fraley was lying at the time of the arrest. The bag contained a computer that was seized after a search warrant was executed, according to court documents.
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A forensic investigation showed that Fraley possessed at least two files containing nudity-oriented material or performance involving a minor on his computer, the documents said.
Fraley faces two counts of illegal use of minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, both fifth-degree felonies.
But Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said more charges are expected, and the could be as many as 100.
“This is probably one of the largest internet crimes involving children and children molestation that I have ever seen,” Jones said. “This is what people have nightmares (about) or what you think is the most cruelest you have ever seen is what we have seen on video.”
Fraley was already under investigation when he was arrested on Crawford Street on drug and other charges. He has three children, and they were present when he was taken into custody. The children are safe, Jones said.
Fraley faces charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs, drug abuse meth and three counts of child endangering for that initial arrest. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday in Middletown Municipal Court on those cases.
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A forensic investigation of the computer was conducted by Miami University Police Department Detective Walt Schneider, who specializes in retrieving data and evidence from computers and cell phones. He discovered hundreds of videos involving children, Jones said.
Jones said the images involve children as young as eight months old and 2 years old.
“We have not hundreds, but it appears thousands (of images),” Jones said.
Jones said officials are considering asking the federal government to join the investigation because it is so large and ongoing. The sheriff said he has viewed some of the video.
“It is like something you cannot imagine,” he said. “When you see these babies in these positions and what’s being done to them, what is downloaded and what is there should send chills down your spines. It does mine.”
Detectives declined to say if Fraley is accused of producing the images.
“Helps us, the media, getting the word out that we are looking for anybody, friends or family, anybody that has any information involving this individual, please call the Butler County Sheriff’s Office,” Jones said.
Fraley is scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Middletown Municipal Court.
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