Jennings County man facing child pornography charges

A welfare check on a man sitting in a vehicle on the side of the road in Jennings County led to an arrest on charges including possession of child pornography after four search warrants were issued.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, a caller reported that a vehicle with a man inside had been sitting on the side of the road for about three hours on January 7th. Deputies arrived to check on the man’s welfare, became suspicious and searched the vehicle. That’s when they discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Mark Stearns was arrested on preliminary charges for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.

A search warrant was issued for Stearns phone and during that search police discovered what appeared to be child sexual abuse materials. A Jennings County detectives working with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received approval for another search of the phone for child pornography.

Police requested another search warrant for Stearns’ home and electronic devices that was served on Thursday searching for child pornography. That search also uncovered evidence of narcotics, which led to the fourth search warrant for drugs at the home.

Stearns was arrested again for charges including possession of child pornography along with meth and paraphernalia.