An investigation into a Sharp County man in custody since mid July has resulted in new charges of possessing child sexual abuse material.
On Thursday, 46-year-old James C. Collins of Drasco was formally charged with 24 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
The charges follow an investigation by the Sharp County Sheriff’s Office and the 3rd Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Collins was originally arrested July 18 on charges of:
Introducing a Schedule I or II controlled substance into another’s body, a Class Y felony
Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, a Class D felony
Possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class D felony
The investigation is ongoing. Collins remains in the Sharp County Detention Center.