Investigators with the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office initiated a criminal investigation in June 2026 after receiving a complaint of an individual utilizing an online account to attempt to commit child exploitation on a local child.
The investigation identified Nathaniel Johnston, 28, of Australia, as the account owner. Once his location was confirmed, authorities collaborated with Australian law enforcement to continue the investigation.
On June 24, 2026, Mr. Johnston was arrested by Australian authorities and charged with multiple online child sexual abuse offenses. Multiple electronic devices were seized from his residence and are awaiting forensic examination.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation. There is no further information to release at this time.
ICAC Taskforce Investigators were assisted in this investigation by detectives with the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office and Australian law enforcement members of the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team.
The Indiana ICAC is a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. The Indiana ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website. To report a crime with your child as a victim involving the internet or other electronic means, please contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency. To learn more about the efforts of the Indiana ICAC, visit https://internetcrimesagainstkids.com.