The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

A 44-year-old Sisters man faces 22 child pornography-related charges after being arrested on Tuesday, January 21, in the wake of six–month investigation by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office reported Wednesday, January 22, that the detectives division had acted on a tip from Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) regarding Michael Wills possibly possessing and distributing child pornography. The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 4,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.

During the investigation detectives reportedly confirmed that Wills was the person involved.

On January 14, detectives contacted Wills at his residence near Sisters. Detectives interviewed Wills, and a search warrant was later served at his residence. During the search warrant service, detectives seized various electronic devices belonging to Wills. A search warrant to analyze the electronic devices was later granted, and, according to DCSO, a forensic examination of the electronic devices revealed Wills was in possession of images of child pornography.

Wills was contacted again on January 21, and interviewed regarding the evidence located on his electronic devices. Detectives reportedly learned during the investigation that Wills possessed and distributed sexually explicit images of children. Wills was arrested and lodged in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office adult jail on 11 counts each of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the first and second degree.

This investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible, DCSO reports.