DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — A 25-year-old Dothan man has been arrested and charged with 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material following an investigation that began with a cybertip, according to the Dothan Police Department.
Kevin John Long was arrested Thursday, Nov. 12, after investigators identified him as a suspect in a case involving material allegedly shared and possessed through the messaging application Discord.
According to Dothan Police Chief William E. Benny, the investigation began when the department received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The tip indicated that child sexual abuse material had been shared and possessed by someone in the Dothan area through Discord.
Investigators obtained court orders to gather information needed to identify the location of the device involved.
According to police, investigators identified Long as the person accessing the material during the dates and times outlined in the cybertip.
A search warrant was obtained for a residence in the 1500 block of Oak Drive in Dothan.
During the search, officers arrested Long and seized electronic devices for forensic examination.
Long was booked into the Houston County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
According to Chief Benny, additional charges are possible following the forensic examination of the seized devices.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the electronic evidence.
Long has been charged but has not been convicted of the offenses.
