Webster Co. man charged with dozens of child sexual exploitation offenses

CLAY, Ky. (WFIE) - The Kentucky State Police says they’ve arrested a man following an ‘Internet Crimes Against Children’ investigation.

According to a release, 31-year-old Damien Belt was arrested after it was found that he was sharing inappropriate pictures of children online.

KSP says the investigation resulted in a search warrant at a home in Clay on March 14. Investigators found equipment that was being used to carry out the crime. It was taken to a forensic lab for examination.

Officials say throughout the investigation, two juvenile victims were identified and interviewed. During the interviews, there were multiple incidents of rape and sodomy reported with Belt being accused.

According to a press release, these incidents involving the juvenile victims have supposedly been occurring for over a year.

Officials say during a search of Belt’s electronic devices, digital evidence was recovered supporting the juvenile’s claims.

The press release states Belt’s additional charges are three counts of Unlawful Transaction with a Minor, 1st Offense, Illegal Sex Act with a minor under 16 and three counts of Use of a Minor under 16 in a Sexual Performance. He was also charged with three counts of Rape 2nd, and three counts of Sodomy 2nd.

According to officials, Belt was previously charged with 33 counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance under 12 years old, 33 counts of possession of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance under 12 years old and two counts of promoting a minor under 16 years old in a sexual performance.

Belt now faces dozens of charges of sexual exploitation offenses.

Belt was arrested and booked on March 15 into the Webster County Detention Center.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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