A convicted sex offender who purchased internet access from a neighbor has been arrested for promoting child pornography following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Investigators say they initially traced six images of child pornography to an apartment in the 3300 block of South Westwood Boulevard. The resident told troopers he was selling Wi-Fi access to another man, James W. Graham, 65.
Graham was prohibited from having internet access because of a prior child pornography conviction.
He is currently being held in the Butler County jail on charges of promoting child pornography after investigators found images on his devices.
He is charged with six Class B felony counts of promoting and distributing child pornography and two Class D felony counts of failing to register as a sex offender.
According to the probable cause statement by MSHP Corp. Dustin Reed, investigators were conducting an online child pornography distribution investigation. MSHP Master Sgt. Patrick Sublette downloaded six files of child pornography from a device — later allegedly found to belong to Graham — that had been made available online.
MSHP investigators initially executed a search warrant Tuesday at the apartment to which the Wi-Fi connection was registered. During their investigation, it was found the occupant was selling access to his Wi-Fi connection to Graham, who resided in another apartment in the building.
A second search warrant was served at Graham’s apartment, who allegedly revealed he had two e-mail addresses and a cell phone. Graham later allegedly confessed to using a concealed cell phone to access the internet from the Wi-Fi connection he purchased. He also allegedly confessed to seeking out the six files of child pornography the MSHP downloaded June 5.
Graham is being held without bond at the Butler County jail. He was slated to have his initial court appearance Thursday.