BRODHEAD — A joint investigation involving the Green County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has led to the arrest of a 25-year-old Brodhead man on charges related to child sexual abuse material, authorities said.

On Feb. 5, detectives from the Green County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by deputies and DCI agents, executed a residential search warrant in the N2800 block of County GG in the town of Spring Grove. The warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).

The investigation began with a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led to the discovery of additional reports of child sexual abuse material, commonly referred to as child pornography. Garrett L. McKnight, of Brodhead, was arrested at his workplace in Janesville with the assistance of DCI agents. Detectives later executed a second search warrant at a residence in the 1100 block of 17th Street in Brodhead.

On Feb. 10, McKnight was formally charged in Green County Circuit Court with two counts of possession of child pornography, a Class D felony. He is being held on a $20,000 cash bond. Additional charges were filed in Rock County Circuit Court, where McKnight faces two counts of child sexual exploitation, a Class C felony. He remains in custody at the Green County Jail.

The Green County Sheriff’s Office emphasized its commitment to aggressively investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in crimes against children. 

“These are serious crimes that deeply impact victims, families, and our community,” the office said in a statement.

Authorities have not released further details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. The NCMEC, a nonprofit organization, works with law enforcement agencies nationwide to combat child exploitation and abuse.