Columbia man accused of contacting New Jersey youth to obtain child porn
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia police arrested a man on Friday who is accused of posing as a youth to get child pornography from underage victims, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a press release.
Steven Greathouse, 30, was charged on Friday in Boone County with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, first-degree promoting child pornography and possessing child porn. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.
The release says that CPD received a tip from New Jersey State Police about Greathouse allegedly communicating with youth in New Jersey.
The probable cause statement says New Jersey law enforcement had been investigating the situation since November. Greathouse supposedly portrayed himself as a 14-year-old to get photos from a 12-year-old girl.
New Jersey law enforcement found the accounts associated in the social media conversations belonged to Greathouse, the statement says.
Columbia police conducted a traffic stop on Greathouse's vehicle near the intersection of West Vawter School Road and South Scott Boulevard. He was the only person in the vehicle, the statement says.
Police searched his phone and allegedly found explicit conversations on the social media application SnapChat, in addition to photos and videos, the statement says.
