Child pornography case hits Davenport

DAVENPORT—Scotty Duane Maiden, 30, of Davenport, and Michelle Leigh Hopkins, 47, of Davenport, were booked into Lincoln County Jail on Dec. 29 on charges of dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the 1st and 2nd degree and possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the 1st and 2nd degree.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Internet Crimes Against Children, who track cases regarding sexually explicit images of minors on the internet and social media, that their system detected images of minors engaged in explicit conduct on Dec. 22, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

Chief Criminal Deputy Kody Becker conducted an investigation that included tracing IP addresses, Facebook correspondence, and performing advanced computer analysts research. Maiden and Hopkins were then identified as suspects.

A search warrant was signed and served at 1311 Logan Street at an apartment in town. The search of an iPhone resulted in evidence being located that did contain illegal childhood pornography with over 2,000 photos and over 129 videos of what appeared to be minors. Further forensic analysis will be conducted, the press release states. The search warrant also uncovered numerous text messages and related evidence that resulted in Maiden and Hopkins’ arrest, the press release said.

Maiden was booked on charges that included nine counts of dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree, and eight counts of the same crime, but in the second degree. He was also charged with 12 counts of possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit contest in the 1st degree, and 13 counts of that crime in the second degree.

Hopkins was booked on charges of 12 counts of possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree and 13 counts of the same crime, but in the second degree.

None of the photos and videos recovered in the search warrant are known to be of local origin or youth from Lincoln County, the press release said.

The case is still under investigation. It was filed in Lincoln County Superior Court on Dec. 30. Updates will be shared when available.