ISU Police arrested two ISU students Wednesday on charges in connection with separate incidents of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Buckley Necker, senior in agricultural education from Aurora, Iowa was charged with five Class D felony counts after he made at least five child pornography-related movies available to the public through an Internet-based ISU network index, said ISU Police Capt. Gene Deisinger.

“We believe he knowingly distributed those, and we believe he knew [the participants] were under 18,” Deisinger said.

In an unrelated case, Jeremy Leo, freshman in meteorology from Fort Dodge, was charged with 17 counts of aggravated misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a minor, Deisinger said. He was also making files available through the ISU network.

Wednesday’s arrests were the second and third recent arrests of ISU students made by ISU Police in connection with child pornography. On May 2, former ISU student Jason Lighthall was arrested and charged in connection with child pornography charges, according to staff reports.

ISU Police received an anonymous tip, related to Necker’s case, that child pornography was available on StrangeSearch (strangesearch.dhs.org), an index that allows ISU students to share electronic files with others. Deisinger said ISU Police obtained a subpoena to get account information that was then used to determine where the pornography files had come from.

Police issued a search warrant for Necker’s residence hall room, 1559 Helser Hall, and seized computer equipment and media storage devices. Deisinger said analysis of these items confirmed Necker made available pornographic material involving minors.

Deisinger estimated the minors in the movies ranged from about ages 9 or 10 to 14 years old. Necker is being held at the Story County Jail on a $35,000 bond.

Leo’s arrest came after ISU Police received a tip he was sharing an electronic folder that contained images of minors engaging in sexual acts. Police obtained a search warrant for Leo’s residence, 3290 Birch Hall, and seized computer equipment.

Leo’s computer contained several images of minors being subjected to sex acts, Deisinger said. He said at this time they have no reason to suspect Leo knowingly made the images available to the public.

The children in the images found on Leo’s computer ranged from ages 5 or 6 to mid-to late teens, Deisinger said.

Leo is being held on $60,000 bond at the Story County Jail.

Pete Englin, dean of students, said if both men are convicted, they will face disciplinary action from Iowa State as well.

“If the allegations hold true, they would be a violation of the student disciplinary regulations,” Englin said.

He said both students are currently enrolled at Iowa State.

Josh Carlson, senior in computer science and administrator of StrangeSearch, said the purpose of StrangeSearch is to allow students to share files with others at Iowa State.

“It for the most part is unmonitored. A person can share whatever they want, and if it’s [child pornography] there isn’t much I can do,” Carlson said.

He said he has no plans to change the system in the future despite these events.

Deisinger said ISU Police does not regularly monitor StrangeSearch either.

“When we receive reports we pay closer attention,” he said.

Making child pornography available is not a victimless crime, Deisinger said.

“People collecting and distributing child pornography fuel the demand, which results in the victimization of children,” he said.

According to Daily staff reports, Lighthall pleaded guilty to five counts relating to child pornography on Aug. 30. Lighthall was indicted on counts relating to distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography-related materials. His trial date is set for Nov. 4.