A West Virginia man who used the online alias “MrChildPorn” has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, according to investigators.
Garrett Highlander, 20, was taken into custody after authorities said he allegedly bragged online about having a “large cache of child porn.” The case came to light following dozens of cyber tips that led state troopers to execute a search warrant and ultimately uncover illicit material on his devices, according to the Daily Wire.
Operating in Plain Sight
Highlander appeared to operate openly on the messaging platform Discord, using the username “MrChildPorn” — a handle that drew attention from other users and, eventually, law enforcement. In some channels, he reportedly also went by “MrToxix.”
Investigators said Highlander sent child sexual abuse material to other Discord users through both shared chats and direct messages. The case grew after the platform filed 48 cyber tip reports, which prompted troopers to dig deeper. Those reports revealed “numerous chat conversations” in which Highlander allegedly searched for sexually explicit images of children and asked others “if anyone was willing to trade ‘cp’ with him,” the Daily Wire reported.
Arrest and Initial Claims
When state troopers arrived to search Highlander’s home, he reportedly claimed his online statements were made “to be inflammatory” and that he found it amusing to troll and “rage bait” other members of the online communities. But the search of his devices told a different story, according to authorities — child pornography was found on them.
After the discovery, Highlander reportedly admitted to participating in “chat servers … in which young, often juvenile females were groomed or talked into self-harm.” However, he insisted that he was merely a bystander and was “never involved in this activity.”
Legal Proceedings
Highlander was arrested and held at West Virginia’s North Central Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond. On Wednesday, he posted bond and is scheduled to appear back in court on Monday, August 31, according to the Daily Wire.
The case highlights how brazen online behavior can sometimes backfire — and how quickly cyber tips can translate into real-world consequences. Authorities have not released further details about the investigation, and Highlander has not yet entered a plea.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/man-who-goes-by-mrchildporn-arrested-for-possession-of-child-porn