Teen Bible teacher from Ohio was arrested for allegedly downloading child pornography

(Source: Adobe Stock Images / Devin Reeson)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A volunteer teacher and youth Bible study teacher in Worthington has been arrested for crimes related to child pornography.

According to federal court documents, 49-year-old Andrew Brown was arrested April 30 following a six-month investigation into his alleged distribution, transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography.

In an affidavit, investigators wrote that in October 2023, an officer snooped on peer-to-peer file-sharing networks and discovered that an IP address was distributing or downloading child pornography. The download was performed using torrenting software that allows users to share files directly with other peer-to-peer users. Between approximately October 26 and November 1, 2023, the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force initiated an investigation into the same IP address. During this time, the group downloaded files from a torrent offered by the IP and discovered that it contained over 1,000 images of child sexual abuse.

The user’s IP address was traced to a computer in an apartment south of Worthington. Investigators determined that the same computer continued to download child pornography until April 7, 2024.

On April 29, authorities served a search warrant at the north Columbus address. They entered the apartment and discovered that Brown’s computer was still actively downloading and sharing pornographic content.

Brown, who investigators said admitted to using torrenting software to download child pornography, was arrested and taken to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. There, Brown told officers that he described himself as a “collector” and that he had “a lot” of content on up to 21 devices in the apartment.

Brown told authorities that he was from Jamaica, where he also accessed child pornography, and was living in the United States on an expired visa.

Law enforcement seized 21 devices, including one that contained hundreds of images and videos showing adult men sexually abusing young girls.

On Friday, a preliminary hearing for Brown was moved to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, where a future court date has yet to be set. He was originally charged May 1 in city court with two counts of solicitation of sexually oriented material involving a minor and posted a $500,000 bond.