State investigators say a Tickfaw man is behind bars after he allegedly searched for and uploaded files that depicted the sexual abuse of young children. Authorities identified the suspect as 24-year-old Chandler Matthew Sanderson, who was arrested Thursday and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail.
According to WGNO, citing the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, agents allege Sanderson searched for, saved and uploaded multiple files containing prepubescent child sexual abuse material to an online file-storage platform. Prosecutors have charged him with six counts of possession of child sexual abuse material involving victims younger than 13, and the investigation remains ongoing, the outlet reports.
How Investigators Say These Cases Often Start
State authorities say many child sexual abuse material investigations begin with cyber tips submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, then unfold as multi-agency operations that can involve the Attorney General’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, local sheriff’s offices and federal partners, according to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. Local reporting has documented a string of similar cases in the area; in one example, a separate Tickfaw man was booked in February on nearly 70 counts, underscoring how common multi-agency CSAM probes have become. WBRZ reported on that earlier Tickfaw arrest.
What Louisiana Law Says About the Charges
Louisiana classifies possession of child sexual abuse materials as a serious felony under R.S. 14:81.1, with penalties that can include years at hard labor and substantially longer sentences when the victims are under 13. The statute sets out enhanced terms and mandatory monitoring for convictions involving very young victims, and it directs law enforcement to coordinate with the Child Victim Identification Program at NCMEC during prosecutions. The full language of La. R.S. 14:81.1 details the definitions and sentencing ranges.
The Attorney General’s Office says the investigation into Sanderson remains active. Authorities are asking anyone with relevant information to contact the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation or the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. Officials say the case will be updated as prosecutors move forward with filings and court hearings.
