A Rockville neighborhood social network turned into the center of a criminal case this month after investigators say a local man shared inappropriate material with minors on the site. The 54-year-old was arrested in Rockville on May 11 and remains in county custody following a criminal complaint that outlined the online posts and prompted a police review.
As reported by WTHI, authorities have identified the suspect as 54-year-old Jason Eberhart, who faces two counts of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, both charged as Level 6 felonies under Indiana law. According to WTHI, Rockville police made the arrest with help from the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Investigation and reporting
The Rockville Police Department worked the case with the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency unit overseen by the Indiana State Police. Indiana ICAC encourages people to report suspected online exploitation to NCMEC's CyberTipline so law enforcement can evaluate tips and pass them on to local investigators.
What the charge means
Dissemination of matter harmful to minors is defined in Indiana Code §35-49-3-3 and, in most situations, is treated as a Level 6 felony. The statute spells out when material shared with minors crosses the line into criminal conduct. Under Indiana sentencing rules, a Level 6 felony conviction carries a fixed term of six months to two-and-a-half years and can include fines up to $10,000, according to the state sentencing code. For more, see the statute as posted by Justia and the sentencing rules on Justia.
How police say they found the posts
According to the criminal complaint described by WTHI, investigators say the messages were posted on the neighborhood platform Nextdoor and were directed at users believed to be minors. Rockville officers arrested Eberhart on May 11 and booked him into the Parke County Jail. Authorities have not released more information about the content of the posts while the investigation continues.
Resources and next steps
Anyone who saw the posts or has information about similar content is asked to contact the Rockville Police Department or file a report with NCMEC's CyberTipline so investigators can review the material. The Indiana ICAC site also shares resources for parents and guidance on preserving digital evidence that can assist investigators and prosecutors. Court records and Parke County public filings will reflect any formal charges or upcoming hearings, and local news outlets as well as public dockets are expected to show the next steps as the case moves through the system.
