Indiana University student James Porter was arrested Sept. 18 and later charged with child exploitation with an aggravating factor, a level 4 felony, and possession of child sex abuse material, a level 6 felony.
In an interview with the IU Police Department mentioned in a probable cause affidavit, Porter admitted to viewing, downloading and disseminating child pornography for the past six years, most recently on Sept. 11. Porter estimated he had a collection of over 100 videos and photos with children as young as 5.
IUPD launched the investigation May 18 after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children following a report from the messaging app Discord. Using Discord login records with an IP address that traced back to IU Wi-Fi, IUPD confirmed in an affidavit that Porter sent five files of child pornography through Discord on Oct. 29, 2025.
Porter’s Discord account was created on Oct. 27 and active until Oct. 29, when the account was banned for violating the rules of the platform, according to the affidavit.
Discord reported one conversation between Porter and another user Oct. 29, when he sent five files that were determined to be child pornography. After receiving files in return, he asked the other user, “do you have any younger.”
Porter admitted in an interview with IUPD to repeatedly creating new email addresses and accounts after being banned from multiple platforms.
IUPD seized several electronic devices from Porter’s apartment in the Hickory Building of Union Street Apartments on campus with a search warrant for investigation Sept. 18, according to the affidavit. Afterwards, he was taken to the IU Police Department for questioning. Porter was then transported to the Monroe County Jail and issued a $200,000 surety bond and a $500 cash bond and let out on bail.
His pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2027.
