WASHINGTON – Members of the Indiana State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, with assistance from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, arrested a Washington man for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Chad C. Cooper, 42, of Washington, was arrested Wednesday, May 28th, following the execution of a residential search warrant.
Detective Robert Whyte initiated the investigation in March 2025 and, using a variety of investigative techniques, identified a potential suspect. Detective Whyte applied for and was granted a search warrant for the suspect’s residence. The search warrant was executed in Washington.
The ICAC Task Force, which included detectives from the Indiana State Police, forensic examiners from ISP’s Digital Forensics Unit, Deputies from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Troopers from the Jasper District, seized electronic and digital media devices. During forensic examinations and the interview, evidence of child sexual abuse material files was located. Tools from the Child Rescue Coalition also contributed to the arrest.
Chad Cooper was arrested without incident and transported to the Daviess County Jail. He is facing three counts of distribution of child pornography under the age of 12, a level 4 felony, and two counts of possession of child pornography under the age of 12, a Level 5 felony.
The Indiana ICAC Task Force is a multiagency task force that investigates and prosecutes people who use the internet to exploit or entice children sexually. The Indiana State Police oversees the task force.
The Indiana ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to NCMEC. The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website. To report a crime involving your child as a victim that uses the Internet or other electronic means, please contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency.
ICAC Taskforce website: https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
