Springfield man charged with possession of child porn; claimed to have taken pictures of kids at a Walmart

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - A Springfield man has been charged after investigators found him with multiple pictures and videos of child pornography.

According to court documents, 56-year-old Craig Rhoden is charged with first-degree promoting child porn and two counts of possession of child porn.

According to a probable cause statement, in May 2022, an investigator with the Springfield Police Department received multiple cyber tips. Yahoo had flagged three different emails being used to upload several hundred images and/or videos containing possible child sexual abuse material.

Authorities were able to link these accounts to Craig Rhoden. Authorities say some of the images contained children as young as a few days old, and there were also images found of adults performing sexual acts with infants.

According to court records, authorities found online folders containing “upskirt pictures of children at Walmart.” Authorities note that when searching the various email addresses from Rhoden, they found he received paychecks from Walmart. Rhoden told investigators he worked at the Walmart at 2825 N. Kansas Expressway.

In January 2023, authorities conducted a search warrant at Rhodens home and arrested him. He told investigators that the multiple emails used were his. After being asked by authorities how many images they would find on his devices, Rhoden said they would likely find thousands of pictures and videos of child porn.

Rhoden told authorities he “was not necessarily attracted to children, but was excited about child pornography because it was taboo.”

Rhoden is set to appear in court on Wednesday, January 18.

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