By Erica Thomas, managing editor
ROANOKE, Ala. — The State Bureau of Investigations Digital Forensics Unit paid a visit to Roanoke, Alabama on Thursday, April 29, 2021, to make an arrest.
Phillip Lydell Roberts, 41, was taken into custody in connection to a child pornography case. He is facing two counts of possession of obscene material/child under 17, and four counts of possession of obscene material. Roberts was booked into the Randolph County Jail at 10:56 a.m. with no bond.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation took place at an apartment unit at 146 Chestnut Street, in Roanoke. The State Bureau of Investigations has not released details on the investigation.
In the state of Alabama, it is illegal to possess obscene material that depicts anyone under the age of 17 in a way to arouse sexual pleasure. Someone can be charged with possession of child pornography for having the material on their person or in their home, including on a computer’s hard drive or internet history, or on their phone.
Class C felonies are punishable by a prison sentence of at least one year and one day up to 10 years. Fines can go up to $15,000.00.
A man with the same name and address was arrested in 2018 for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident, according to a news report. The Randolph Leader reported the man was charged although court records were not available in that case.