A 40-year-old Brown County man faces multiple charges for possession of child pornography and dealing marijuana after police served a search warrant on his home Dec. 4.
Indiana State Police Trooper Chris Griggs assisted Nashville Police Department at the home of Dylan Elliott in the 3100 block of Salt Creek Road.
On Dec. 16, Elliott, 40, was charged with possession of child pornography, a Level 6 felony; dealing in marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor; and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a Level 6 felony.
The investigation began when Nashville Police Officer Justin Anderson was dispatched to the Circle K gas station on State Road 46 East to meet with the step-parent of a 16-year-old girl. The girl had been sending nude photos to Elliott, according to Griggs’ report. Griggs also saw a photo that Elliott had sent of himself nude, but it did not show his genitals, the report said.
Officers found Elliott on his porch. While Griggs was doing a protective sweep of the home, he reported a strong odor of marijuana inside. In one room he saw multiple marijuana plants hanging from the ceiling and multiple jars that had large amounts of marijuana inside. As he walked back through the living room, Griggs reported seeing more marijuana, the affidavit states.
Elliott told Griggs that he thought police were there because he had been talking with a juvenile girl and had sent her photographs of the marijuana. He said her family discovered the two were talking and did not approve.
Elliott said the marijuana belonged to him and a relative, but he grew it for personal use. He told Griggs he harvested around 20 marijuana plants this year and guessed it was about two pounds. He told Griggs he never sold the marijuana, but gave it away to friends and family.
He initially denied exchanging inappropriate and nude photographs with the girl. After Griggs said he had seen screenshots of their conversations, Elliott said he never asked for nude photographs, but the victim had sent him multiple photos and videos. He said he deleted them and told her not to send them, according to the affidavit.
Elliott said he knew it was illegal and that he would get in trouble because of her age. He said he had only been talking to her for two weeks and that he deleted everything off his phone after her parents became aware of their conversations. Griggs reported finding nothing on Elliott’s phone and it was secured as evidence.
A relative who lived with Elliott was not arrested, but a report was forwarded to the Brown County prosecutor’s office.
Griggs also talked with the girl, who said Elliott did not do anything wrong. She said he had given her a marijuana vape pen.
She told Griggs the two had been talking for “a year or two,” but she could not remember the exact date they started talking online about random subjects. She could not remember when she sent the first explicit photo. She also said she could not remember if Elliott had ever sent her a photograph, the affidavit states.
She did tell police that Elliott had brought her food at work and that they kissed in the car, but that she could not remember when that happened.
Elliott was interviewed again at the Brown County Law Enforcement Center. That time, Elliott said he had known the girl for about a year, but they had only been communicating via social media for about 20 days, which would have been around the time the girl turned 16, according to the affidavit.
He told Griggs he initially lied about his age, saying he was 26, but later told her that he was 40. He also said he asked for a photo of the girl choking herself, but nothing inappropriate, he said.
Elliott also told police he had a high IQ, but was “dumb” and that he was emotionally damaged. He said he liked attention, according to the affidavit.
During that interview, Elliott said he thought 16 was a legal age for consent.
Before the interview was over, Elliott said he was trying to cooperate and that he was ashamed of himself. He said he was in something he could not get out of. He told Griggs he was prepared to take full responsibility for his actions, the affidavit said.
Elliott was arrested, then released from jail after posting $8,500 bond. He pleaded not guilty and told the court that he planned to hire his own attorney. His trial was tentatively set for Feb. 12.
