PRESS RELEASE

March 17, 2025

MULTIPLE ARRESTS MADE IN ETOWAH COUNTY FOLLOWING CYBER CRIME INVESTIGATION

ETOWAH COUNTY, AL - On March 5, 2025, and again on March 10, 2025, investigators with the Etowah County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with detectives from the Rainbow City Police Department, executed multiple search warrants across the county. These search warrants were the result of an extensive investigation initiated by cyber tips related to Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), according to Sheriff Jonathon Horton.

Investigators Fuller and Green, both members of a specialized task force with ICAC, worked alongside several Rainbow City detectives in the execution of these operations, leading to the arrest of multiple individuals on charges related to child exploitation and possession of child pornography.

The following individuals have been arrested and charged:

• Dalton Dean Rosser, 18, of Hokes Bluff, was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. His bond has been set at $40,000.

• Michael Earl Champion, 45, of Attalla, was arrested and charged with 50 counts of possession of child pornography. He is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bond.

• Jonathan Corey Lankford, 31, of Gadsden, was arrested and charged with six counts of possession of child pornography. His bond is set at $120,000.

• Ashton Thomas Walker, 23, of Altoona, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography. He is being held on a $20,000 bond.

• Jonathan Nickolas Hoge, 25, of Gadsden, was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. His bond has been set at $40,000.

• Joseph Scott Brooks, 21, of Gadsden, was arrested and charged with one count of transmitting obscene material to a minor. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.

Authorities have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming as further evidence is examined. The bond conditions for each suspect include:

• No possession of smartphones, internet access, or social media accounts.

• No unsupervised contact with minors under the age of 18.

"This operation underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from online predators," said Jonathon Horton, Sheriff of Etowah County. "We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our partners in law enforcement to ensure that those who engage in these crimes are held accountable."

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Etowah County Sheriff's Office.