WARSAW — A North Webster man faces child pornography charges.

James Lee Winters

James Lee Winters, 50, 705 South Linda Lane, North Webster, was arrested on a warrant for possession of child pornography, a level 5 felony, and possession of child pornography, a level 6 felony.

On March 20, 2019, police opened an investigation spurred from eight tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tips alleged that child pornography was being accessed from an IP address in Kosciusko County, said the affidavit of probable cause.

With assistance from the Koscuisko County Prosecutor’s Office, police obtained a subpoena after they discovered the IP address was tied to Winters’ residence in North Webster.

On Oct. 29, 2019, police went to speak with Winters at his residence. According to the affidavit, Winters said he accessed the internet at his home mainly through a password-protected desktop computer. Police then informed Winters of the aforementioned tips of child pornography being accessed from the IP address tied to his home.

Winters admitted to viewing adult pornography on the desktop computer but said he does not click on links underneath the videos. He said that he avoids links displaying things he didn’t want to see, said the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Winters consented to a search of his cell phone and desktop computer. During a preliminary search of the desktop computer, police found links to images depicting child pornography in the browser history. Winters appeared nervous at this time, said the affidavit. Police conducted a further forensic analysis of his desktop computer, court paperwork said.

The forensic examination confirmed the existence of images depicting child pornography on Winters’ computer said the affidavit.

On March 4, Winters was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail. His initial bond was $10,250 surety and cash.