Facebook cyber-tip leads to arrest of Dry Ridge man

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)- Attorney General Andy Beshear says a cyber-tip from Facebook led to an arrest of a 25-year-old Dry Ridge man for reportedly exchanging sexual images with a Kentucky minor over the Facebook Messenger app.

Officials say Tyler Lee Day was arrested and charged with 12 counts of use of a minor under 16 in a sexual performance, two counts of the prohibited use of a communications system to procure a minor for a sex offense, and two counts of distribution of obscene matter to a minor.

The arrest stems from a cyber-tip reported by Facebook to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which was received by Beshear’s office and investigated for seven weeks.

Detectives from Beshear’s office submitted multiple subpoenas and search warrants during the investigation, which led to the discovery that Day had sent sexual images of himself, requested sexual images of children and, in some cases, received images from children.

Beshear says an extensive search by detectives led to a Dry Ridge location where Day was taken into custody. He is currently being held in the Carroll County Jail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Gallatin District Court.

To help keep children safe online, the office has collaborated with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky to offer statewide trainings.

To report any instance of child abuse to local law enforcement or to Kentucky’s Child Abuse hotline at 877-597-2331 or 877-KYSAFE1.