An investigation conducted by members of the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force resulted in the arrest of Lawrence Christopher Taylor, 60, from Hammond, IN. Investigators received more than a dozen Cyber Tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to a specific Verizon Wireless telephone number. After several months of investigation, a search warrant was requested and granted with the assistance of the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Mr. Taylor was found to be in possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and taken into custody on October 3, 2023. He was transported to Lake County Jail. He has been preliminarily charged with Level 5 Felony Child Exploitation (2 Counts) and Level 6 Felony Child Exploitation (2 Counts). Further charges may be considered by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office. Assisting in the investigation were members of the ISP Digital Forensics Unit, ISP Lowell District, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hammond Police Department.
All suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless proven guilty in court.
Please visit https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/ to report any child exploitation related crimes. Resources for victims and their families are also available.