MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. – More than two dozen people were detained as part of a child pornography investigation in Morgan County on Friday, May 9, according to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
“Earlier today, investigators with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division, along with the University of Alabama Police Department, and District Attorney Office for the 25th Judicial Circuit (Marion and Winston County) executed a search warrant (at a) rehabilitation and recovery center located on Highway 36 near Hartselle. The search warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into child pornography,” the MCSO said.
During the search, investigators located James Oliver Canter, 49, of Somerville, according to the department. Canter was allegedly found to be in possession of numerous images of child pornography.
Center was arrested and charged with five counts of possession of child pornography with intent to disseminate. His bond was set at $375,000.
During the search, according to the MCSO, 25 subjects were detained. “Of those, seven were determined to have unrelated outstanding warrants and were arrested.”
The MCSO said that due to the number of residents and size of the property, the MCSO S.W.A.T. team, including the Priceville Police Department, Morgan County Sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Unit and Fugitive Unit assisted.
“The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office continues to maintain a heightened focus on crimes against children. Through the effort of our investigators, we have made numerous human trafficking, child abuse and child pornography arrests. This will continue,” said Morgan County Sheriff Ron Puckett.
