Laptop at bar prompts child-porn arrest

PORTALES, N.M. (KBIM-KRQE) - Five months after sheriff's deputies began investigating wireless downloads of child pornography in the Portales area a laptop computer left running at a bar provided a break in the case.

On Friday, Roosevelt County deputies arrested Christopher Kelley, 40, of Portales under a warrant naming him as their suspect. He is being held in the Roosevelt County Detention Center on 52 felony counts alleging sexual exploitation of children by possessing and manufacturing child pornography.

The investigation began in November 2009 when someone with a computer began accessing unsecured wireless connections at businesses, and a residence to download child porn. The videos and images were of known victims on file with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to a news release from the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office.

That led to the serving of a search warrant at the residence where an examination of a computer showed no pornographic images. However, the investigation revealed the wireless router at the home had a range of 300 feet and had been accessed by the same computer that targeted the businesses.

Then on April 13, a patron at the Dawg Houze bar in Portales noticed an unattended laptop and while saw what appeared to be video of child porn. Sheriff's deputies reported a witness identified Kelley as the owner of the laptop.

Investigators then searched Kelley's residence where they seized several computers and external hard drives. Forensic investigators alleged the hardware contained multiple images and videos of known victims of child pornography.

Kelley's cash-only bond has been set at $100,000.