The Salem Police Department along with U.S. Federal Parole Agents are continuing to investigate a former sex offender from Salem on new charges of Child Pornography.
Dean O. Cart, 54, of 400 Ridgeview Drive, Salem, Indiana, was arrested Thursday, October 17 for Possession of Child Pornography, a Class D Felony.
Major Scott Ratts received information that a local business in Salem had banned Cart from their premises for inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature by showing a nude picture on his cell phone to a female employee on Wednesday afternoon.
Ratts had previous knowledge that Cart was a registered sex offender and had been previously charged federally and convicted of Distribution of Child Pornography in 2005.
Cart had been released and was currently residing at 400 Ridgeview Drive in Salem and was on federal probation.
Ratts spoke to his probation officer, Agent Ross Carothers, and told him the Salem Police Department had dealt with Cart several times over the last few months for various complaints.
Carothers told Ratts that as part of his conditions of release, he was supposed to report any contact with the police and he had not done so. Agent Carothers informed Ratts that a condition of Cart’s conditional release is that he shall not possess any pornography, erotica, or nude images, and that he shall submit to a search of person, residence, property, office/business, vehicle, computer systems, and peripheral devices along with the assistance of any law enforcement officer.
Ratts said he met with Federal Agents Jason Nutter, Carothers, and Jay Hardy at Salem Police Department on Thursday.
“I provided Carothers copies of the three contact cards in which our department had prior contact with Cart,” said Ratts. “We discussed the upcoming home visit and I told them I had received information that Cart had been banned from a local business.”
The officers arrive at Cart’s home about 9:45 a.m. Thursday and met with Cart. During the home visit, pictures were discovered by the agents and a search warrant was issued by the Washington County Circuit Court.
During a search of residence officers located several pictures depicting children in various states of nudity and pornography.
Cart’s cell phone was seized pending a forensic examination.
Officers also seized DVD’s, VHS tapes, and magazines.
Once the search was completed, Cart was arrested for Possession of Child Pornography and transported to the Washington County Detention Center.
Police are continuing the investigation and more charges could result.
