All persons arrested or cited are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.
(Fremont County, WY) – 39-year-old Wellington, CO man Charles Howard Baker was arrested on a warrant for three counts of sexual exploitation of a child relating to possession of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) yesterday, August 5, according to a press release issued by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department on August 6. According to the release, Baker was an “employee of Larimer County who was assigned to support the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office as a radio technician.” Baker was arrested in Lander yesterday, August 5.
The release states that the investigation began when Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab (BCDFL) detectives received CSEM files from “someone in the Northern Colorado area during a proactive Peer-to-Peer investigation.” (Peer-to-Peer, or P2P, file sharing allows people using special software to download and share files with other users around the world via the internet.)
The tip was then sent to an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) detective at the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) due to the suspect’s computer IP address originating from a home in the town of Wellington in Larimer County, CO.
After it was discovered that Baker, the occupant of the home and potential suspect, was a Larimer County employee who worked with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, the BCDFL was asked to take the lead on the investigation due to the potential conflict of interest. LCSO personnel are still assisting in the investigation, however.
After obtaining a search warrant for Baker’s Wellington residence, law enforcement seized “numerous computers and other electronic devices.” Baker was placed on paid administrative leave the day the warrant was served, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The release goes on to inform that upon examination of the digital evidence, investigators discovered “thousands of CSEM videos and images,” along with “what appeared to be attempts to use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate CSEM material using explicit prompts.” Analysis of the digital evidence established probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant against Baker for possession and attempted production of CSEM.
On Wednesday, August 5, deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office made contact with Baker at a campground outside of Lander around 6 PM and arrested him on the outstanding warrant.
Baker was then booked into the Fremont County jail and will be held without bond until seen by a judicial officer for the following counts:
- Violating C.R.S. §18-6-403(3)(b.5),(b)(II),(5.5), sexual exploitation of a child – possession of a video, a Class 4 Extraordinary Risk Felony
- Violating C.R.S. §18-6-403(3)(b.5)(5.5), sexual exploitation of a child – possession of an image, a Class 5 Extraordinary Risk Felony
- Violating C.R.S. §18-6-403(3)(b);18-2-101 criminal attempt to commit sexual exploitation of a child – production, a Class 4 Felony
Agencies who assisted with this investigation include the Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab, Longmont Department of Public Safety, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Larimer County District Attorney’s Office, and Fremont County (WY) Sheriff’s Office.
You can read the full press release in the link at the top of the article.