BLOOMINGTON — A Bloomington man who was already out on bond awaiting trial for child exploitation is back behind bars after investigators uncovered a new string of alleged online offenses targeting young minors.
Dustin R. Shertzer, 40, was arrested by police on June 2, 2026, following a fresh investigation. He now faces new charges in Monroe Circuit Court, including:
- One count of attempted child exploitation (Level 4 felony)
- One count of child solicitation (Level 5 felony)
- Two counts of possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM) (Level 5 and Level 6 felonies)
According to court records, Shertzer was previously arrested in April 2024 on similar charges of child exploitation and possession of child pornography. While that initial case was still being adjudicated, he had been released on bond. Following his recent arrest, a judge officially revoked his bond, returning him to the Monroe County Jail.
The new investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerted authorities to a series of objectionable files uploaded to a cloud-based Dropbox account.
Investigators reviewed the flagged content and discovered multiple sexually explicit files involving victims who appeared to be under the age of 12, specifically estimated between 8 and 10 years old. A digital footprint analysis traced the Dropbox account directly to Shertzer.
Due to the 2024 case, local authorities were already deeply familiar with Shertzer. In a notable twist, the same Bloomington Police detective who spearheaded the initial 2024 investigation was assigned to the 2026 case.
On June 1, 2026, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Shertzer’s residence on Stipp Road.
During an initial interview with detectives, Shertzer denied possessing any illegal materials and claimed he had never even heard of the platform Dropbox. When pressed about his digital devices, Shertzer insisted he only used his phone to play games and claimed his computer was used solely “as an alarm clock.”
When investigators asked for the passcode to search his cellphone, Shertzer invoked his right to counsel, effectively ending the interview.
Despite Shertzer’s denials, a subsequent forensic examination of his mobile phone paints a vastly different picture, according to court documents.
Data recovery showed that Shertzer had attempted to delete Kik, an online messaging app. Investigators noted that both Kik and Telegram are frequently utilized by offenders for the possession and distribution of CSAM due to their privacy features.
Forensic logs revealed active communications on both platforms:
- Kik Account: On June 1—the exact day police raided his home—Shertzer was actively messaging a juvenile girl. He allegedly suggested she look into modeling, requested photos, and urged her to travel to Indiana for a photo shoot. Logs showed he attempted to open similar dialogues with other minors.
- Telegram Account: Shertzer was allegedly communicating with a 13-year-old girl under the guise of helping her with modeling. He offered to fly her to Indianapolis for a photo shoot, clarifying that it would take place at an Airbnb rather than a professional studio. Court documents note that the conversation progressed to explicit discussions about engaging in sexual intercourse.
The court filings further allege that the 13-year-old girl offered to recruit other models for him. Shertzer reportedly responded that “12-17 is the best ages,” later explicitly refining his request to girls “no older than 16.”
With his previous bond stripped, Shertzer remains held at the Monroe County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court for a formal bail review hearing on June 18, 2026.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
