Explicit content: This story includes descriptions of evidence that many could consider disturbing. Read at your own discretion.
A 47-year-old Casper accused of having more than 27,000 images of child pornography has been charged with one felony count of sexual exploitation of children.
Matthew Nick Leslie was in a Natrona County courtroom Wednesday, the culmination of an investigation by the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court records show Leslie’s wife discovered pornographic material on a compact disc and contacted law enforcement July 26. She gave three CDs to the DCI agent to review.
The DCI agent found one of the discs with time stamps from 2008 and 2009 that depicted an underage child lying naked on a bed committing a sexual act on herself with the handle of a hairbrush, the affidavit states.
After getting a warrant to search Leslie’s home, the DCI agent went to a desktop computer in the basement and found recent files accessed on the machine with titles such as “Danielle 12 YO and friend show us all,” “Little Angels” and one titled “(Ptch) (Orgasm) 11Yr 12 YO.”
The DCI agent “noted the term ‘Pthc’ in the filenames is an abbreviation for a term commonly used of child pornography meaning ‘preteen hardcore,’” the affidavit states.
The agent also found that the computer had recently used a “CCleaner” program set up to delete temporary files such as browsing data, cookies and file registries, the affidavit states.
‘Probably Child Porn’
Leslie was interviewed shortly after midnight July 27 and consented to questioning after being read his Miranda rights. The investigator asked him if he knew why he was there.
“Probably child porn,” Leslie told investigators, according to the affidavit. “Because there’s probably CDs downstairs that have that on it from years ago and I haven’t throw it away.”
He admitted to viewing pornography and being caught by his wife about a month prior.
Leslie told the agent he had downloaded the files years earlier and had never downloaded files following his marriage in 2015. The affidavit states he admitted transferring some files to his desktop computer and that he also used the computer to view images saved on the discs.
He told police he started viewing child pornography in the late 1990s or early 2000s. He denied ever distributing images or have hands-on contact with a child, the affidavit states.
143,000 Images Of ‘Child Erotica’
Using their search warrant, investigators collected the desktop computer, an Apple iPhone, a stack of 40 DVD discs, 19 USB drives, SD and MicroSD cards, and a Microsoft RT Tablet for forensic evaluation.
The affidavit states that as of Aug. 13 the investigation is ongoing, but tens of thousands of images have been found.
“Based on the examination completed thus far, over 27,000 Category 1 images of child pornography were discovered on items taken from Leslie’s home,” the affidavit states. “Additionally, there were over 143,000 Category 2 images, often described as child erotica.”
Information in the affidavit states that Category 1 images are those that depict sexual intercourse and Category 2 depict “lascivious exhibition” of sexual parts of the body designed to elicit a sexual response from the viewer.
The affidavit states the investigation continues.
A charge of sexual exploitation of children carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 or both.
Bond for Leslie was set at $100,000 cash or surety.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
