A Ravenden Springs man arrested in connection with a Walmart theft in Pocahontas now faces additional charges for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to Pocahontas police, Dawson Nicholson was initially investigated in February for stealing hard drives and tampering with theft detection devices at the store. During an interview with officers about the incident, Nicholson reportedly admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material and showed police illicit images on his phone.
Authorities later executed a search warrant at Nicholson's residence, seizing multiple internet-connected and storage devices for further investigation. As a result, Nicholson was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, a Class C felony, along with commercial burglary and the removal of a theft detection device.
Nicholson is being held at the Randolph County Detention Center, where his bond for the theft-related charges has been set at $50,000 cash. He remains in custody awaiting further court proceedings on the new charges.
No additional information has been released regarding upcoming court dates or evidence related to the child exploitation allegations.