ELWOOD, Ind. — A 32-year-old Elwood man is facing a series of serious felony charges following a months-long investigation by the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force.
Austin Michael Thompson was arrested earlier this month and booked into the Madison County Jail after law enforcement uncovered what they describe as a large cache of child sexual abuse material and evidence of online exploitation. The investigation, which involved multiple agencies and spanned nearly a year, led to Thompson being formally charged with ten felonies, including child exploitation, possession of child pornography, and promotion of child sexual trafficking.
Authorities say the case began with a series of CyberTipline reports filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The reports flagged suspicious activity tied to an IP address linked to Thompson. Detectives allege Thompson used several social media platforms—including Snapchat, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and others—to distribute and solicit explicit material involving minors.
According to a 16-page affidavit filed in the case, investigators believe Thompson posed as a teenage girl online in order to convince underage boys to share illicit images and videos. At least 27 such interactions were documented across multiple social media accounts.
In March of this year, detectives executed a search warrant at Thompson’s former residence on North 9th Street. After learning he had recently moved, investigators located him at a trailer on State Road 37 in Elwood, where he was observed and later detained by police. During questioning, Thompson reportedly admitted to having inappropriate material on his phone, stating that he had “urges” beginning in 2019 and had been exchanging content with an individual overseas.
Officers recovered hundreds of images and videos believed to depict child sexual abuse. Additional forensic analysis of Thompson’s phone revealed more than 2,000 messages exchanged via encrypted messaging apps, in which authorities say Thompson attempted to trade illicit content and connect with others involved in similar illegal activity.
Officials emphasize that Thompson denied ever having physical contact with minors and claimed his actions were limited to online exploitation. However, two potential victims have already been identified and interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The charges filed against Thompson include:
- Two counts of promotion of child sexual trafficking (Level 3 felonies)
- Seven counts of child exploitation (Level 4 and Level 5 felonies)
- One count of possession of child pornography (Level 5 felony)
The Hamilton County Metro ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force—comprised of detectives from multiple central Indiana agencies including Anderson Police, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the Department of Homeland Security—continues to lead the investigation.
As of this publication, Thompson remains in custody at the Madison County Jail. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges as further digital evidence is reviewed.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force or local law enforcement.
