From Press Release from Sheriff Shane Russell and Court filings
A Cave City man with a Drasco address has been incarcerated in the Sharp Couty Detention Center since July 18 on an investigative hold. James C. Collins, 46, picked up additional felonies that are pending following a joint investigation with the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department and the Third Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF).
As a result of the investigation, Collins is expected to be charged ith 24 counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
The July case that originally placed Collins in custody took place at a residence in Cave City. Cave City Police Patrolman Dalton Corter responded to meet with Department of Human Services representative Ted Ford. Ford was at the home regarding an allegation of child abuse. A juvenile victim, under the age of 16, told Ford that Collins had given her methamphetamine to see if she liked it. The child had tested positive for the drug.
Cave City Police Chief David Edwards was advised of the incident and relayed to Ford that the child had made a previous allegation of abuse, and both Patrolman Corter and Lt. Milligan had spoken with the child. The court filing does not indicate when the child made the allegation to police or whether there is a record of the reporting.
Collins permitted officers to search the residence and DTF Special Agent Willie Baker was called to help execute the search. A tourniquet with brown residue and a syringe were found under Collin’s mattress. The syringe tested positive for methamphetamine. At that time, Collins was taken into custody for an investigative hold pending the filing of formal charges for A Class Y Felony of Introduction of a Controlled Substance into the Body of Another, A Class D Felony Endangering the Welfare of a Minor and a Class D Felony of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell said, “The Sharp County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the citizens of Sharp County and ensuring that those who exploit children are held accountable. This investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
We will continue to follow this case and update when formal charges are filed and a bond is set for Collins.
