Kokomo Man Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Material Charges

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A 67-year-old Kokomo, Indiana man named Lyle Sanders was arrested and charged with 5 counts of Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material, a Level 5 felony, after investigators executed a search warrant at his home and discovered approximately 20,000 illegal images on at least one of his devices. The investigation was conducted by the Howard County Sheriff's Office and the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to identify and prosecute individuals who possess and distribute child sexual abuse material, which is a serious crime that exploits and victimizes vulnerable children. The Indiana ICAC Task Force plays a critical role in investigating these types of crimes and working to protect minors from online predators.

The details

In June 2025, the Howard County Sheriff's Office and Indiana ICAC Task Force began an investigation after receiving a CyberTip Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about child sexual abuse material being uploaded. Through the investigation, they determined that Lyle Sanders was the suspect. On February 5, 2026, a search warrant was executed at Sanders' home in Kokomo, where investigators found approximately 20,000 images of child sex abuse material on at least one of his devices.

• In June 2025, the investigation began after receiving a CyberTip Report.
• On February 5, 2026, the search warrant was executed at Sanders' home.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Howard County Sheriff's Office emphasizes that the filing of the information is merely an allegation, and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.