Joe Evan Cheney of Mexico is now charged by prosecutors after the Boone County Sheriff's Office Cyber Crimes received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in December of 2022.

According to court documents the NCMEC got complaints from the messaging app Discord that one of their users held uploaded 16 images showing suspected child pornography on October 5, 2022. Discord provided an email address and phone number for the person who created the account. In January 2023 detectives found the person who was registered as the owner of the phone number and were able to review the data from the images from Discord.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, a search warrant was executed by law enforcement at Cheney's home in Mexico. Court records show Cheney admitted he owned the email address and phone number connected to the Discord account and admitted to possessing and distributing the images.

Cheney has been charged with one count each of promoting child pornography and possessing child pornography. Cheney's first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, March 16. He was being held without bond.