A Columbus firefighter is in custody facing federal charges after being implicated in a child pornography investigation. Carson Bigham, 23, from Lancaster, was arrested on Wednesday for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement, acting on two cybertips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), traced the criminal activity back to Bigham, as reported by FOX28 Columbus.
Found in the seized devices of an unnamed Columbus man charged earlier with similar offenses, investigators discovered conversations with Bigham, who is alleged to have used the screen name "daddy," discussing sexual acts with minors and receiving illicit material. He was arrested at his Lancaster residence by Internet Crimes Against Children investigators, as only 10TV cameras captured the scene where electronics were seized for evidence. A detailed investigation into these devices unearthed conversations and illicit materials that resulted in Bigham's arrest, which was documented by WBNS.
At his court appearance, Bigham faced Magistrate Kimberly Jolson in federal court on Thursday, with witnesses that included his family and Columbus fire administrative staff. The gravity of the charges means Bigham could face five to 20 years in prison and have to register as a sex offender if convicted. A bond hearing is scheduled for May 27, as noted by The Columbus Dispatch.
Following his arrest, Bigham was placed on administrative leave from his position with the Columbus Division of Fire. "24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Columbus Fire Fighters serve the citizens of Columbus without fail," said Steve Stein, president of the Local 67 Columbus Fire Union, highlighting the fire department's commitment to community service and the high standards expected of its members. In light of the charges against Bigham, Stein expressed the union's serious approach to the investigation in a statement obtained by WBNS.
The Columbus community, where Bigham served as a firefighter, reckons with the unsettling juxtaposition of a trusted public servant entangled in crimes against the very fabric of society, its children. The case remains under the jurisdiction of the authorities, with the Columbus Firefighters Union and the City of Columbus deferring further comment while the investigation continues, as mentioned by The Columbus Dispatch.
