A Pulaski County man was arrested Thursday for allegedly possessing child pornography and planning to molest a minor.

The South Central Computer Crimes Task Force worked with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office after a series of cyber tips revealed Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) being exchanged from a device in Saint Robert, Mo.

• August 26, 2024:The first cyber tip came to the task force after the messaging app, Kik, suspected one of its users of sending CSAM and notified law enforcement about the account where the content was flagged.
• September 6, 2024:Two additional cyber tips came after the same account was caught sharing more illegal content.
• October 7, 2024: A cybertip has flagged the fourth illegal content shared by the same user.
• October 22, 2024: The fifth cyber tip flagged the user’s statements stating he “either had, wanted or planned to molest a child,” according to a probable cause statement.

At least 35 CSAM files have been reported in these cybertips.

A search warrant was served on Oct. 24 for the suspect, Nicholas Andrew DeVita, 44, of Saint Robert.

Upon conducting the search, deputies said DeVita allegedly admitted to owning the social media accounts where the CSAM was exchanged with other users.

However, court documents noted that he denied ever doing or planning to molest a child, but rather that he “role-played with other users.”

The man was charged with possession of child pornography – second/subsequent offense or possession of more than 20 photographs/a film/video tape.

DeVita was booked into the Pulaski County Jail on $500,000 bond.