Atmore man arrested after agents find photos of nude children as young a 2 in phone
Dodge
A registered sex offender living in Atmore is back behind bars on $1 million bail after being arrested last week on five counts of possession of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography with the intent to distribute and one count of electronic solicitation of a child.
Matthew Mason Dodge, 46, 1013 McCullough Road, was arrested last Wednesday, July 17, at his residence.
According to information released by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA State Bureau of Investigation agents, ALEA SWAT, Homeland Security's Investigations Cybercrimes unit and officers with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office made the arrest after receiving a cyber tip. In his first court appearance last week, District Judge Eric Coale set Dodge's bond at $1 million.
Court officials said more than 1,000 images of nude and partially nude children were discovered on Dodge's cell phone.
According to arrest reports, Dodge is accused of using the phone App 'Pikki' to communicate with a 13-year and instruct the child to perform sexual acts.
On the intent to distribute child pornography, Dodge is accused of having an image on his cell phone of a nude 2 to 4-year old girl and a nude adult male. The charge noted this image is shared electronically in order to obtain other such images.
The possession of child pornography charges included images of nude and partially nude girls between the ages of 2 and seven with a nude adult male. Some of the images showed the male performing sexual acts on the children.
In a statement released by ALEA, the investigation is continuing.
