A Missouri man has been charged with possession of child porn after a missing child from Pennsylvania was found in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a statement shared on Tuesday, April 7, that Michael L. Colchado was arrested on April 3 in connection with a missing person, as well as a child sexual abuse material investigation.
On the day of the arrest, troopers said they obtained an investigative tip that a missing child from Pennsylvania was possibly traveling on Interstate 44 within Laclede County. Authorities received the tip as part of a larger ongoing missing person investigation that was being conducted by Pennsylvania authorities and FBI investigators.
A trooper located a vehicle traveling near Conway, Missouri, and decided to conduct a traffic stop based on the investigative tip. The officials managed to locate the child in the vehicle during the traffic stop, while the troopers said that Colchado, 18, was the driver.
Additionally, troopers said they obtained evidence that Colchado traveled to Pennsylvania to pick up the child and he was bringing them back to Missouri at the time he was pulled over. However, it is not currently clear what that evidence was.
Officials also searched the car and recovered an electronic device with child sexual abuse material on it. Colchado was then arrested and brought to the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office, where he was placed on an investigative hold. Investigators then sent a probable cause statement to the Laclede County Prosecutor, explaining they were seeking felony charges.
The Laclede County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Colchado one day later on April 4 with three counts of possession of child porn.
He is currently being held in the Laclede County Jail without bond, while the Missouri State Highway Patrol said that the child was returned home safely.
It has not been revealed if Colchado has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest. The Missouri State Highway Patrol told Luxury Handbag Shopping they could not share any additional updates at this time.
It is not currently clear how Colchado knew the child or if he will be charged in connection to the minor’s disappearance. An investigation into the case remains ongoing as officials work to uncover more details about the situation.
MSHP’s Drug and Crime Control Special Victims Unit investigators completed the arrest with the help of Lebanon Police Department, Laclede County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
