A Kingsville man was charged Friday, March 9 by the Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office with promoting child pornography.

39-year-old Richard C. Applegate was arrested March 8 after investigators executed a search warrant at his residence. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says computer equipment used to commit the crime was located during the search.

Applegate was taken to the Johnson County Jail and bond was set at $15,000.

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announces the arrest of Richard C. Applegate, 39, of Kingsville, Missouri, on March 8, 2018, for promoting child pornography. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigative Unit. The Patrol was assisted by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

On Thursday, March 8, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Applegate’s residence located on Northwest 1771st Road, in Kingsville, Missouri. As a result of their search, investigators located computer equipment used to commit the crime. Applegate was arrested and transported to the Johnson County Jail.

On Friday, March 9, 2018, the Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office formally charged Applegate with promoting child pornography in the first degree. Bond was set at $15,000.

The Division of Drug and Crime Control encourages Internet users to report promptly to the Patrol or local law enforcement anyone who attempts to engage in unwanted, inappropriate, or sexualized communications with children. The Digital Forensics Investigative Unit is partially funded by the Missouri Department of Public Safety State Cyber Crime Grant and the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The above charge is a mere accusation and is not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of this charge must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

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