Mark Richard McKuhn, 41, was arrested on 20 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and encouraging the sexual assault of an animal.
Linn County Sheriff’s deputies served a child exploitation search warrant at a residence on North Second Street on March 6, according to a news release from Sheriff Bruce Riley.
The search warrant was the culmination of an extensive investigation into the online distribution of child pornography over the Internet.
Deputies served the search warrant and located four people inside the residence. McKuhn, a registered sex offender, was one of the people at the home and was arrested.
During an interview with deputies, McKuhn admitted to searching for child pornography and collecting child pornography over the internet, according to the release. In addition, he admitted to internet communication with minors with the intention of obtaining explicit photographs of children, the release states.
Additional charges may be forthcoming following digital forensic examination of devices seized during the search warrant.
Other convicted registered sex offenders reside in the home and this investigation continues.
LCSO was assisted during the search warrant by the Albany Police Department, Linn County Parole and Probation and the Lebanon Police Department.
This investigation is ongoing. LCSO asks anyone with information relevant to this investigation to contact Detective Trenary at 541-917-6665.