WHITLEY CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Police say a Columbia City man is behind bars after Indiana State Police, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), initiated a criminal investigation when a tip came into the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an online account had been used for child exploitation.
Specific details were not released but officials say the investigation revealed the owner of the online account allegedly to be Nicholas Egner, 31, Columbia City, IN. After reviewing the results of the investigation, the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for Egner’s arrest.
On Saturday, February 5, 2022, officers with the Columbia City Police Department located Egner at his Old Trail Road residence and arrested him without incident. He was transported to the Whitley County jail and held pending his initial appearance in the Whitley County courts. He is charged with five counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Level 4 Felony.