Authorities arrested a 74-year-old Washington County man for several child pornography and child sex crimes on Friday following a lengthy investigation.
Trooper Mackenzie Benham with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg began an investigation in October 2022 after learning of alleged sexual contact between the suspect, 74-year-old Jack Barton, and an underage victim. Trooper Benham attended a forensic interview conducted by the Indiana Department of Child Services with the victim as part of the investigation. The investigation also included interviews with the suspect. As a result of information gained during the initial investigation, detectives served a search warrant on Barton’s Pekin residence in November 2022. The detectives collected several digital devices and sent them for forensic examination by the Indiana State Police Intelligence & Investigative Technologies division.
Upon completing the examination, examiners returned all devices and information to Trooper Benham in Sellersburg. After reviewing the results, Trooper Benham requested an arrest warrant for Barton. On Friday, January 5, 2024, the Washington County Circuit Court issued an arrest warrant for Barton, who was then arrested on the following charges:
- Sexual Misconduct with a Minor -Level 4 Felony (7 Counts)
- Possession of Child Pornography – Level 6 Felony (20 Counts)
- Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors – Level 6 Felony
