From The Tribune staff reports
SHELBY COUNTY — A Leeds man was arrested on multiple counts of possession of obscene matter on Monday, Jan. 9.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, in November 2022, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This information led to an investigation involving David Stephen West, 54, of Leeds.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office stated that investigators arrested West on 10 counts of “Possession of obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts”.
“At this time, investigators have no information that suggests the images were produced in or near Shelby County,” the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release.
West is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
“I am grateful for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and this is another example of our deputies using this partnership to aggressively pursue those who prey on our children,” Sheriff John Samaniego stated
This investigation is still ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with additional information to call the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 670-6000. An anonymous tip can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777 or on their website at www.crimestoppersmetroal.com
For more information on the crimes charged, you can view the Alabama Criminal Code at http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/…/1975/coatoc.htm and search for code 13A-12-192.