Local man catches interest of internet task force after obtaining nude photos of children

Stephen+Mills%2C+61%2C+will+be+required+to+register+as+a+Tier+I+sex+offender+and+register+as+such+for+15+years%2C+Judge+Mark+Fleegle+said+in+court.

Stephen Mills, 61, will be required to register as a Tier I sex offender and register as such for 15 years, Judge Mark Fleegle said in court.

By Jessica Johnston, Assistant News Director

A 61 year-old Zanesville man caught the attention of a internet task force after using his computer to obtain child pornography.

Stephen Mills hung his head Wednesday morning during his plea hearing as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Anderson read the facts of his case.

According to Anderson, the Zanesville Police Department received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force alerting officers to Mills’ home. The task force was able to trace illegal images to Mills’ home through his IP address.

Mills was using his Yahoo account to access nude photos of juveniles and loading them onto a USB drive in an attempt to hide the photos from his family members, Anderson said in court.

When law enforcement interviewed Mills, he admitted that “he likes looking at children in a state of nudity,” Anderson said.

Officers were able to locate the USB with nude images inside Mills’ apartment on Woodlawn Avenue.

Wednesday morning, Mills pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information that included three fifth-degree felony counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material.

The State and Mills’ defense agreed to a joint recommendation of three years in prison.

His bond was continued at $200,000 pending his sentencing.