Huntingburg police arrested 51-year-old Roy E. Stearns of Holland on October 21, 2025, after an investigation prompted by a cyber tip from Google that was forwarded to authorities by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Stearns was booked into the Dubois County Security Center and faces charges that include child exploitation (Level 5 felony), possession of child pornography (Level 6 felony), and dissemination of matter harmful to minors (Level 6 felony), according to a Huntingburg Police Department press release and multiple local news reports.

The investigation began on October 15 when Huntingburg detectives received the cyber tip through the established NCMEC channel. Over the following week detectives, working with the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, developed evidence that led to Stearns’ arrest at his Holland residence. The Huntingburg Police Department issued a public release on October 22, and local outlets including the Dubois County Free Press, WFIE 14 News, WJTS.tv and WITZ Radio subsequently reported the arrest.

The case illustrates how nationwide digital reporting mechanisms and local investigative units intersect to address online child exploitation. For residents of Huntingburg, Holland and other parts of Dubois County, the incident highlights that illicit material hosted or shared online can have local consequences and that national platforms’ automated and human-review processes can trigger local law enforcement responses. The involvement of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force also reflects the multijurisdictional approach state and local agencies increasingly use to trace and prosecute online crimes against minors.

Local officials have positioned the arrest as an example of established reporting and investigative processes working as intended. The arrest is described in reports as an isolated incident; no local schools or organizations are reported to be involved. Still, the revelation of online activity resulting in felony charges is likely to prompt heightened vigilance among parents and community groups and could increase the volume of cyber tips and reports made to law enforcement in the coming weeks.

The case raises practical questions for county-level policy and resource planning. If reports of online exploitation increase, Huntingburg and Dubois County officials may face pressure to allocate additional investigative resources, expand community education on internet safety, or strengthen collaboration with state and federal partners. Public access to court records, upcoming hearings in Dubois County courts and any subsequent filings will be critical to tracking how prosecutors proceed and whether additional charges or related investigations emerge.

This story was verified through the Huntingburg Police Department’s release and corroborating coverage by local media outlets; at the time of reporting it had not yet appeared on the Prism Dubois County page. Residents seeking updates should monitor official police communications and local court dockets for developments, and parents and caregivers are advised to review online safety tools and reporting options available through national and local law enforcement channels.