BOLLINGER COUNTY, MISSOURI (NewsFirst) — On Friday, December 1st, 2023, an Investigator with the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in reference to a report of attempted child molestation. In the information provided, the suspect was identified as Justin Welker of Sedgewickville, Missouri, who was attempting to arrange the travel of an out of state individual to Bollinger County, Missouri, for the performance of sexual acts on a child. After receiving that information, Justin was located at which time his cellular telephone was seized as evidence. After the device was seized, a search warrant was obtained for the device.
On Thursday, February 8th, 2024, the results for the device collected from Justin were provided to the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office. The results included, but were not limited to, an abundance of child pornography images. After obtaining that information, a warrant for Justin’s arrest in reference to the child pornography images was issued on Friday, February 9th, 2024. In addition to the arrest warrant issued on Friday, February 9th, 2024, a search warrant was also obtained by the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office for Justin’s residence in Sedgewickville, Missouri. Throughout the course of the search warrant, officials with the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office collected multiple additional items as evidence in reference to this investigation.
Then, on Wednesday, February 14th, 2024, the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office received additional information from the FBI in reference to additional evidence located on a social media communications account belonging to Justin. After that information was received, it was forwarded to the Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office at which time Justin’s arrest warrant was amended to reflect the additional criminal charges. The warrant information for Justin pertaining to this investigation is as follows:
Possession of Child Pornography – Class D Felony
Possession of Child Pornography – Class D Felony
Possession of Child Pornography – Class D Felony
Possession of Child Pornography – Class D Felony
Possession of Child Pornography – Class D Felony
Possession of Child Pornography Film/Video – Class B Felony
Possession of Child Pornography Film/Video – Class B Felony
Possession of Child Pornography Film/Video – Class B Felony
Possession of Child Pornography Film/Video – Class B Felony
Possession of Child Pornography Film/Video – Class B Felony
Bond: $100,000.00 Cash Only
Jurisdiction: Bollinger County, Missouri
At the time of this release, Justin remains incarcerated in the Bollinger County Jail.
This remains an active investigation. No further information will be released at this time and all inquiries about this investigation will be directed to the Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
All subjects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
– Sheriff Casey A. Graham
