Arrest made on child exploitation charges
A 19-year-old Horn Lake man is being held in the DeSoto County Adult Detention Center in Hernando facing charges of child exploitation.
Thursday’s arrest of Aaron Whitten of Horn Lake came as part of an investigation by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) division. A news release from the Sheriff’s Department stated that a search warrant was developed on Whitten’s residence, which was executed early Thursday morning. Evidence related to the possession and distribution of child pornography was found.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, Whitten made a partial confession at the scene and was taken into custody. During the investigation, Whitten also “gave additional incriminatory statements,” the release said.
Whitten is charged with one count of accessing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. He is awaiting his initial appearance in Justice Court to determine his bond amount.
The ICAC Division is a group of highly experienced full-time detectives, an electronic storage device detection K-9, and a state-of-the-art digital forensics lab staffed with world-class Digital Forensics Analysts.