Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Springfield, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.
Jarod “Bull” Michel, 31, of Springfield, was charged in an indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Michel’s arrest and initial court appearance.
The federal indictment alleges that Michel received and distributed child pornography over the Internet between July 18, 2013, and May 20, 2014.
According to court documents, Michel’s computer was identified by two separate law enforcement agencies conducting independent undercover investigations concerning the distribution of child pornography using peer-to-peer file-sharing software. Investigators allegedly downloaded several videos of child pornography that were being shared over the Internet by Michel’s computer.
The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Michel to forfeit to the government any property used to commit the alleged offense, including a laptop computer.
Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the FBI.
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