A 20-year-old West Virginia man was arrested after allegedly using the username 'MrChildPorn' on Discord and boasting about his large collection of child pornography. Garrett Michael Highlander was taken into custody on Friday, August 21, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Alleged Discord activity
Highlander allegedly spread his illegal stash of pornography on the communications app Discord under usernames including 'MrChildPorn' and 'MrToxix'. Local media reports say many other users complained on the messaging boards that Highlander “would not stop sending” explicit images of minors to them via direct message.
After his arrest, Highlander told West Virginia State Police officers he engaged in the behaviour because “he was 'trolling' and 'rage-baiting' because he found it highly amusing.”
Evidence and charges
Officers discovered a photo of a young, prepubescent girl in a compromising position with “cuts on her legs and arms.”
Highlander has been charged with possession of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was booked in North Central Regional Jail and held on a $100,000 bond, according to online booking records and WV News.
Potential penalties
If convicted, Highlander faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in a state correctional facility for distributing material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct. He also admitted being in chat servers where young people – often young girls – were groomed and encouraged to harm themselves, although he denied taking part in that behaviour.
For an adult knowingly distributing general obscene matter to a minor in West Virginia, the maximum penalty is up to five years in a state correctional facility and/or a $25,000 fine.
