SHAWNEE, OK (KOKH) — A Pottawatomie County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to several charges.
According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cyber tip about suspected child abuse on March 7 of last year.
The information was then passed on to the OSBI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC).
The ICAC was able to identify 24-year-old Chance Ballard as a suspect.
According to the OSBI, a search warrant was issued for Ballar’s Shawnee home on December 19.
Ballard was questioned and admitted to downloading and possessing child pornography through multiple online accounts and selling child pornography. – OSBI
Investigators determined that Ballard had previously had physical contact with a victim.
He was arrested and charged with the following:
- Distribution of obscene material
- Serious possession of child pornography
- First degree rape
- Incitement to sexual conduct or communication with minors through the use of technology
- Pattern of crimes
On Wednesday, Ballard pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison in Pottawatomie County District Court.
