Editor’s note: This story includes mention of potentially triggering situations, including exploitation of a minor. Resources are available here.
The Bloomington Police Department arrested IU freshman Ryland Reaves, 18, on Feb. 27, charging him with child exploitation and possession of child sex abuse material, level four and five felonies, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Jonathan Muscato, a BPD detective, began investigating a cyber tip Jan. 26. Muscato works as an affiliate to the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. ICAC is a network representing over 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcements agencies that investigate and prosecute those associated with internet crimes against children, according to the website.
Social media company X sent the tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Oct. 8, 2025.
One image file containing two nude photos of a prepubescent girl accompanied the tip, with X alleging that the images were shared via direct messages Oct. 6, 2025, according to the affidavit. The tip also included account information for the suspect’s X profile, under the username @dong_ry7483.
Muscato found the photos that accompanied the tip on the suspect’s account after obtaining a search warrant for X, Google and T-Mobile.
Muscato allegedly found additional sexually graphic videos in the suspect’s deleted direct message media depicting adult men and toddlers.
Through the Google warrant, Muscato found an IP address used to log into the Gmail account and found its associated phone number, belonging to Reaves, through the T-Mobile warrant.
He obtained a search warrant for Reaves’ dorm in Edmondson Hall in the IU Collins Living-Learning Center and executed the warrant Feb. 27.
During an interview with the detective, Reaves fully confessed to possessing child sexual abuse material and sending it to another user on X, according to the affidavit. He also confirmed the suspected account to be his.
Reaves allegedly told the detective that he currently had CSAM on his personal phone and Muscato found the same image from the initial tip after searching Reaves’ phone. Reaves reportedly confirmed he knew the child in the photo was younger than 18 and that he sent it to another user on X.
Reaves said he obtained the materials through Telegram, X and Mega, the affidavit stated. Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging app that is known for its end-to-end encryption. Mega is a file hosting service.
Reaves was arrested and taken to the Monroe County Jail, where he will remain until his initial hearing. Bail may be determined during the initial hearing, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 3 at the Monroe County Courthouse.
