LAFAYETTE, IN — Police arrested a West Lafayette man after investigators say a cyber tip led them to child sexual abuse material found in his online account and later on electronic devices seized from his home. The Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office says 72-year-old Barry Von Tobel admitted in an interview that he downloaded the images.

The Facts

• What: Police arrested a West Lafayette man on a child sexual abuse material possession allegation after a cyber tip started the case.
• Where: Investigators tied the account activity to the West Lafayette area in Tippecanoe County.
• When: The online cloud storage company flagged the images on Jan. 4, 2026. A search warrant was issued on Oct. 20, 2026.
• Who: Authorities identified the suspect as 72-year-old Barry Von Tobel.
• Charges: The prosecutor’s office says the case involves possession of child sexual abuse material.
• Status: Police searched Von Tobel’s person and residence and say they found additional images on his devices. He was arrested after the investigation.

What police say

The Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office says the investigation began with a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to officials, an online cloud storage company detected images of child sexual abuse material in an account tied to the case and reported it.

Investigators say they were able to identify the username, email address and IP address associated with the account. That information led them to Von Tobel in the West Lafayette area, where police later sought a search warrant for his person and residence.

Authorities say the search turned up hundreds of additional images of child sexual abuse material on electronic devices. In an interview with investigators, Von Tobel admitted to downloading the images, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The case moved from a digital alert to a physical search once police connected the online account to a person and a location. That kind of step-by-step tracing is common in internet-exploitation investigations, where account records, device data and internet addresses can help identify a suspect.

The investigation

Cases like this often begin with a tip from a platform provider or a child-protection clearinghouse, then move into records checks and search warrants. Investigators may review account names, login details, device identifiers and internet addresses before asking a judge for permission to search a home or electronic equipment.

Once a warrant is granted, officers can seize phones, computers, hard drives and other storage media. Forensic examiners then look for image files, download histories, browser records and cloud-sync data. In many cases, that digital review is what produces the evidence prosecutors use.

Officials did not say whether anyone else is being investigated in this case. They also did not release details about the number of devices taken or whether more charges are expected. If law enforcement asks for help from the public in a case, tip lines are usually announced by the investigating agency or prosecutor’s office.

What the charges mean

Possession of child sexual abuse material is a serious criminal offense. In general, prosecutors must show that a person knowingly possessed, downloaded or controlled illegal images and understood what the files were. The exact elements can depend on the charge filed under state law.

A case at this stage usually continues through booking, charging decisions, an initial court appearance and later hearings. The defendant may be advised of the allegation, bond conditions may be set, and defense counsel can review the evidence and challenge the search or the search warrant if there is a legal basis to do so.

If prosecutors proceed, electronic evidence often becomes central. Forensic reports, admissions and account records are commonly used to support the case. A conviction can carry significant penalties under Indiana law, but the final outcome depends on the specific charge, court rulings and any plea or trial.

What happens next

Von Tobel’s case will now move through the local court process. That can include an arraignment, pretrial hearings and any motions related to the warrant, the seized devices or the statements investigators say he made.

Prosecutors will decide how to present the digital evidence, while defense attorneys can challenge the state’s proof. Additional court dates and filing details are typically set by the trial court as the case advances.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).