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Alleged exchange of illicit photos between man, middle-schoolers leads to arrest

CLAY TWP., Montgomery County — A man is in custody after police launched an investigation into illicit photos believed to have been exchanged between him and juveniles, according to Clay Twp. Police Chief J. Van Gundy.

Michael O’Neal Fowler Jr., 46, was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail on suspicion of pandering obscenity involving a minor and illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material. Formal charges have not been approved.

Van Gundy said the four accusers in the case that are all in middle school.

Fowler is said to have met the victims at a New Year’s Eve party, where he had shown up, Van Gundy said. The location of the party was not immediately released by police.

Officers are working to get search warrants for cellphones as part of their investigation; Fowler has not been cooperative, Van Gundy said.

Fowler already is charged with criminal child enticement in German Twp. in Clark County from an incident last spring.

In May, he was arrested after German Twp. police said he attempted to meet a 13-year-old girl in the parking lot of a Dollar General after messaging her on SnapChat.

“During conversation in text on Snapchat ‘MofoMike’ suggested that if her mother took her cellphone he would provide her with a cellphone as back up to contact him,” an affidavit filed in Clark County Municipal Court read.

“(Fowler) continued sending Snapchat messages ... wanting to meet her in person and did agree to provide her and her friend JUUL electronic cigarettes if they would meet him,” the court records read.

At the time of his arrest, Fowler was in possession of 38 zip ties, a pill bottle of Viagra, a sex toy, “a marijuana cigarette,” a bottle of CIROC red berry alcohol and a bottle of Crown Royal Vanilla, according to a German Twp. Police Department property receipt.

The Clark County case is still going through the court system, online records show.

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