WHITE COUNTY — A 47-year-old Monticello man was taken into custody following a joint multi-state investigation into child exploitation, the Indiana State Police announced.
The case began in March 2026, when the Indiana State Police Lafayette District Investigations Bureau received a tip from the Boise Police Department in Boise, Idaho, identifying a potential suspect residing within the Lafayette district.
Through investigative techniques, state police detectives gathered sufficient evidence to secure and execute a search warrant for the suspect’s electronic devices. Examinations of the seized equipment allegedly revealed evidence of child sexual abuse material, prompting detectives to request a formal criminal arrest warrant.
On November 9, 2026, deputies with the White County Sheriff’s Office took Michael Gilbert into custody without incident.
Gilbert faces a battery of felony and misdemeanor charges, including promotion of child sexual trafficking, a Level 3 felony; child exploitation, a Level 4 felony; child exploitation and possession of child sexual abuse material, Level 5 felonies; and two counts of dissemination of matter or conducting a performance harmful to minors, Level 6 felonies, and obscene performance, a Class A misdemeanor.
State police officials highlighted the critical role of interagency cooperation in prosecuting crimes against children, thanking the Boise Police Department for initiating the probe, the White County Sheriff’s Office for assisting with the arrest, and the White County Prosecutor’s Office for its ongoing support in the legal proceedings.
Inquiries regarding Gilbert’s arrest should be directed to the White County Sheriff’s Office, while questions about the origin of the investigation can be directed to the Boise Police Department.
Law enforcement agencies remind the public that all criminal suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
