Greenup County felon also charged with possession of a handgun, firearm
FRANKFORT, KY. (Feb. 28, 2017) – Today Attorney General Andy Beshear announced a Greenup County man has been arrested and charged with 20 counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, two counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On Monday, Feb. 27, investigators with Beshear’s Cyber Crimes Unit arrested 52 year-old Craig Nelson Viars at his home in Argillite, Ky. following a two week investigation.
The investigation into Viars began when Beshear’s Office became aware of someone sharing sexually explicit images of minors over the Internet and investigators traced the activity to Viars’s residence.
After the execution of a search warrant at Viars’s residence the morning of Feb. 27, several computer hard drives were found that contained hundreds of images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit acts.
Viars, who is listed on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry and is a convicted felon, was also found to be in possession of handguns and rifles in violation of state and federal law.
Viars is lodged in the Greenup County Detention Center and will appear in Greenup District Court on Wed. March 1. No bond has been set at this time.
The Greenup County Commonwealth’s Attorney and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky will prosecute this case.
The Cyber Crimes Unit was assisted by the Kentucky State Police Post 14, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
“Our office is constantly working with local, state and federal law enforcement officials to ensure our communities and children are safe,” said Beshear. “Protecting children from sexual abuse and taking those who are exploiting children off the streets is one of our top priorities.”
This arrest is part of Operation Shielded Child, an initiative by Attorney General Beshear’s Department of Criminal Investigations to identify, investigate and arrest those who would do harm to children.
In 2016, the Cyber Crimes Unit arrested more online child predators than any year in the history of the office. The number of arrests, indictments and convictions total nearly 80.
