MOSCOW, ID – A 43-year-old Moscow man has been arrested for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material and child enticement.
Michael Arnold was arrested last week by an Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. The Idaho State Attorney General’s Office has charged Arnold with six felonies related to child sex abuse material and one enticement count.
The case began in July of last year when Moscow Police Forensic Detective Lawrence Mowery received a tip from probation officers. Arnold was on probation from a previous case and police in Maine believed that he was enticing young girls online. Arnold’s digital devices were seized and searched. According to court documents, Detective Mowery reportedly found child sex abuse material and online chats with young girls on those devices. Arnold allegedly admitted to parole officers that he chatted with underage girls online and received nude images but deleted the files.
Arnold made his first appearance in Latah County Second District Court in Moscow this morning. He is set to have his preliminary hearing later this month. Arnold is in Idaho Department of Corrections custody.
