COLUMBIA CITY – On Wednesday, April 16, detectives with the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrested a Columbia City man on alleged charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material
This investigation by the Indiana State Police ICAC Task Force began when a tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip ultimately led to a search warrant being served on a residence located in the area of E Hickory Circle and County Road 600 East in Columbia City, by the Indiana State Police.
As a result of the investigation, Derek Gaff, 44, was arrested for three counts of possession of child p, Level 5 Felony, three counts of possession of child pornography, Level 6 Felony, and failure to register as a sex/violent offender. Gaff was transported to the Whitley County Jail and booked into custody.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Whitley County Sheriff Department, Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations Task Force
The Indiana State Police oversees the ICAC Task Force, a multiagency task force that investigates allegations of using the internet to sexually exploit or entice children.
The ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website.
ICAC Task Force website:https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/.
Criminal charges listed are merely allegations at the time of arrest. Arrested persons are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
