BOISE, ID – The Idaho Attorney General’s Office has announced the arrest of a North Idaho man in connection to an ongoing investigation into the sexual exploitation of children.

According to a press release issued June 20, 2025, 67-year-old Kenneth Ely was taken into custody on June 4 by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit. Ely has been charged with ten counts of possession of child exploitation material.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting children from exploitation. “We will pursue every lead and work with our law enforcement partners across North Idaho to thoroughly investigate these allegations and ensure that those who allegedly harm children are held accountable under the law,” Labrador stated.

The arrest was the result of a coordinated investigation involving multiple agencies, including the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lewiston Police Department, United States Secret Service, and the Moscow Police Department.

The ICAC Task Force, comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, works to identify and prosecute individuals who use the internet to exploit minors. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information related to child exploitation to contact their local law enforcement, the ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

The Attorney General’s office reminded the public that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.