The Kokomo Police Department in Indiana has reported the arrest of a Kentucky man on multiple felony charges stemming from a child solicitation investigation. According to a social media post by the department, 20-year-old Cole Farthing of Mayfield, Kentucky faces charges involving an underage victim that were the result of an investigation by local authorities and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The initial complaint, filed on October 8, reported an adult male soliciting a juvenile female via the internet, and following that Kokomo police passed the case to their Digital Crimes Unit and ICAC, who identified Farthing as the suspect, after which they collaborated with the Kentucky State Police to further the investigation, and on December 11 a search warrant at the suspect's home led to his arrest. Farthing now is charged with two counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance, alongside six counts of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means, the former carrying a potential sentence of ten to twenty years and the latter five to ten years, according to Kentucky law.
The arrest was carried out by the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch, with Farthing now facing serious legal repercussions if convicted. The Kokomo Police Department, as stated in their release, encourages anyone with information pertaining to child sexual abuse material or exploitation to contact them or report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or on their website, suggesting that community vigilance is crucial in these matters.
The Kokomo Police Department also provides several anonymous tip lines for those who may have relevant information regarding the case or others like it, and reminds the public that "all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law," stressing the principle of due process in our justice system. Individuals interested in helping the investigation can reach out to Detective Sergeant Andrew Grammer or utilize the tip lines available through various channels including the "Kokomo PD" mobile app and texting service.
