A Cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led to the arrest of a Vanderburgh County man for possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography.

Detectives with the Indiana State Police – Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force in Evansville began an investigation in January of 2023 after receiving a cyber tip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  The cyber tip report indicated that a specific account was possibly used to transmit child pornography images or video files.

Based on information gathered during the investigation, detectives requested a search warrant through the Vanderburgh County Superior Court. 

As a result, on Wednesday, March 30, 2023, members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Indiana State Police executed the search warrant at an address in Evansville, Indiana.

On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, as a result of the investigation and subsequent search, an arrest warrant was issued through the Vanderburgh County Clerk. Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Benjamin Jacob Seger, 24 of Evansville. 

Seger was transported to the Vanderburgh County jail without incident and charged with

• Possession of Child Pornography, Where the Child is Under 12 Years of Age, Level 4 Felony (2 Counts).
• Possession of Child Pornography, Where the Child is Under 18 Years of Age, Level 5 Felony (2 Counts).
• Vicarious Sexual Gratification, Level 5 Felony (1 Count)
• Child Solicitation, Level 5 Felony (1 Count)

Investigating – Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force

Assisting Agencies – Indiana State Police and Jasper Police Department

Arresting Agency – Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office

A driver and two juvenile passengers were all flown by air ambulances following a head-on collision late Monday evening on State Road 60 east of Salem. 

Around 10:30 Monday night, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance with a violent head-on crash between two passenger cars.

The crash occurred on SR 60 between Sullivan Lane and Motsinger Road, located between Salem and Pekin. 

Troopers and the crash reconstruction team from the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg Post responded and continued the investigation.  

The initial investigation reveals that a black 2008 Dodge Avenger was westbound on SR 60 approaching Sullivan Lane.

The car was driven by twenty-six-year-old Brandee Henson of Salem and had two juvenile passengers onboard.

As the Avenger traveled westbound, it crossed over the centerline and collided head-on with a black 2016 Jeep Wrangler driven by twenty-three-year-old Josey Moore-Hicks of Bedford, Indiana.

Both the Avenger and Jeep traveled off the south side of the roadway after the collision, and the Jeep overturned.

Both vehicles then caught fire; however, nearby residents and “good Samaritans” heard the crash and removed all the occupants before the cars caught fire. 

An air ambulance transported Brandee Henson to University Hospital in Louisville.

Henson was listed in serious condition.

Two separate helicopters transported the juvenile passengers to Norton’s Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Both were listed in critical condition.  

Josey Moore-Hicks was transported by ambulance to St. Vincent Hospital in Salem with non-life-threatening injuries.  

The roadway was closed until approximately 1:30 am Tuesday, and officers diverted traffic onto Motsinger Road and Sullivan Lane while troopers continued the investigation.  

This crash is still under investigation; however, officers believe Henson was distracted prior to the collision, which may have led to the vehicle crossing the centerline.

Neither Alcohol nor drugs are believed to be a factor in this crash.  

Indiana State Police arrested a Pekin, Indiana, man for Child Molestation Tuesday afternoon.  

ISP Detective Travis Baker, assigned to the Sellersburg post, launched an investigation in early July after he was contacted by the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Baker learned of possible illegal sexual conduct between Robert Higginbotham, 46, of Pekin, Indiana, and a pre-teen female victim.

During the investigation, Baker learned alleged sexual conduct occurred between Higginbotham and the child during the summer of 2021. The alleged incidents took place at a Pekin, Indiana, residence where Higginbotham was temporarily residing.  

As part of the investigation,  Baker interviewed family members of the alleged victim as well as Robert Higginbotham. The Indiana Department of Child Services conducted a forensic interview with the victim.  

Detective Baker submitted all information gathered during his investigation to the Washington County Prosecutor and, as a result of the investigation, Detective Baker requested an arrest warrant for Higginbotham for one count of Child Molestation, a Level 4 Felony.  

On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Trooper Brett Walters located Higginbotham at a Harrison County residence, where he was arrested on the warrant and taken into custody without incident. 

Higginbotham was remanded into the custody of the Washington County Jail.