The Winnemucca Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a registered sex offender, 52-year-old Michael Hutchinson of Lovelock.
The arrest comes following a joint investigation into the alleged possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.Â
Beginning in late 2024, the Northern Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received multiple Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding suspected downloads of illegal material through social media applications. The reports included several images and video files depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Investigators conducted a digital investigation that traced the activity to a home in Pershing County. A search warrant was obtained for related online accounts, revealing a significant amount of additional illicit material.
Authorities later executed a residential search warrant at the identified home, seizing multiple digital devices for forensic analysis. The review confirmed the presence of child sexual abuse material.
The primary suspect, identified as 52-year-old Michael Hutchinson of Lovelock, was arrested in connection with the case.
Hutchinson faces multiple felony charges, including four counts of possession of a visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a person under 16 and seventeen counts of using the internet to control such material, as defined under Nevada law.
The Winnemucca Police Department, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Division of Investigation, and Nevada State Police Parole and Probation Division continue to work with the Northern Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to address online child exploitation.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact Detective Cory Dunckhorst at 775-623-6396.
