Detectives in Shelby County say a 29-year-old local man was arrested after they uncovered more than 113,000 digital files on his devices that allegedly show the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. The stash was discovered during a search of a vehicle and multiple electronic devices, according to authorities, and the investigation is still active while forensic teams comb through the material.
As reported by Fox59, court filings identify the suspect as 29-year-old Raymond Smith, who was preliminarily charged with a Level 5 felony for possession of child sexual abuse material. Online court records indicate that Smith posted a $10,000 cash bond and is set for a jury trial on Sept. 21, 2026. Prosecutors say forensic examiners are still cataloging the files and discovery in the case is ongoing.
What detectives say they found
According to court documents in the public docket, detectives seized a Samsung Galaxy S24, an external hard drive, a computer, a thumb drive and a Kindle tablet with a wireless keyboard from a vehicle that was searched at Sunrise Park. Forensic examiners allegedly recovered tens of thousands of digital files described in filings as depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent children, infants and toddlers. In those filings, Smith is quoted as telling investigators, "I have been doing this for a while," and saying that adult pornography "doesn’t do that for him," per online court records.
Investigation and local patterns
Cases like this often start quietly, with cyber tips from online service providers that are routed to law enforcement and handled by multiagency Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces. The Indiana ICAC, which is led by the Indiana State Police, has processed similar referrals and investigations that later turned into arrests and prosecutions, according to federal press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Hoodline previously covered a comparable ICAC-driven arrest in French Lick, highlighting how statewide referrals and careful device forensics can build child exploitation cases in Indiana courts.
Legal next steps
Smith currently faces a preliminary Level 5 felony count for possession of child sexual abuse material. Under Indiana law, a Level 5 felony carries a possible prison term of one to six years, with an advisory sentence of about three years, along with potential fines. Those penalties apply only if there is a conviction, and Smith remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. His next scheduled appearance is the Sept. 21, 2026, jury trial noted on the court calendar.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Members of the public who encounter suspected online child sexual exploitation can report tips to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline for referral to law enforcement.
