GONZALES — Ascension Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a registered sex offender following an investigation into child sexual abuse materials uploaded online. The man, 49-year-old Benjamin McNeal of Prairieville, faces 54 counts of child sexual abuse materials and six counts of child sexual abuse materials involving a child under 13.
Earlier this month, detectives with Ascension’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip regarding sexual abuse materials involving children that were uploaded to an online storage database and a social media application. According to APSO, detectives identified McNeal, who is a registered sex offender, as the owner of the platforms where the materials were uploaded.
Detectives arrested McNeal on Dec. 11. He is booked in the Ascension Parish Jail, where he remains without bond at this time.
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