A Lovelock man has been arrested following a joint investigation into the possession and
distribution of child sexual abuse material, authorities announced this week.
According to the Winnemucca Police Department, Michael Hutchinson, 52, a registered sex
offender, was taken into custody after a months-long digital investigation by the Northern
Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The task force includes the
Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and several other
law enforcement partners.
Investigators said they received multiple CyberTip reports from the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children regarding suspected downloads of illegal material through
social media applications. A subsequent investigation traced the activity to a residence in
Pershing County.
Authorities executed a search warrant at the home, where they seized multiple digital devices for
forensic examination. Analysis of the devices confirmed the presence of illicit materials, officials
said.
Hutchinson faces multiple felony charges, including:
•Four counts of possession of a visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a
person under 16 years of age (NRS 200.730(1))
•Seventeen counts of using the internet to control visual presentations depicting
sexual conduct of a person under 16 years of age (NRS 200.727(1)(a))
The Winnemucca Police Department, HSI, Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County
Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Division of Investigation, and Nevada State Police Parole and Probation
Division all participated in the operation.
Law enforcement agencies continue to urge the public to report suspected child exploitation or
online abuse. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact Detective Cory
Dunckhorst at 775-623-6396.
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