Thursday, August 22, 2013
Indictment Issued In Child Porn Case
An indictment has been issued against a Saint Joseph man arrested in May in Florence, Alabama on child porn and child sexual abuse charges.
Matthew Thomas Haislip, age 30, of 502 South Main Street, Saint Joseph, was booked through the Lauderdale County Detention Center on May 8, 2013 on an outstanding warrant for sexual abuse of a child.
The charge was brought through Manitowoc, Wisconsin where Haislip was on parole for the sexual abuse of a boy under the age of 13. The abuse was reported to have occurred during a three year period.
The Alabama charges were sought while Haislip was incarcerated there, when authorities intercepted a package mailed from England that contained child pornography. They report that the package had been mailed to an address on Spurr Street, Florence where Haislip had been staying.
A resident brought the package to the police department where, after obtaining a search warrant, authorities inspected the contents. They reported that it contained a camera with two child pornography videos.
Members of a Lauderdale County Grand Jury have issued the indictment, charging Haislip with attempting to possess child pornography. The offense is a Class C felony punishable by 1 to 10 years imprisonment.
Arraignment has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2013. At the present time Florence authorities report that Haislip is free under a $5,000 bond.
