MONROE - Acting on a tip submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a New Glarus man has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography.

Anthony J. Wesley, 28, has been charged with multiple felonies, including two counts of possession of child pornography. He was arrested locally after the NCMEC received a tip about digital file downloads from the messaging area of a social media site, according to a criminal complaint.

Eventually, authorities further investigated the defendant's Internet activity through a subpoena to provider TDS Telecom, according to the complaint.

"IP (Internet Protocol) address activity linked the distribution of child pornography (flagged by Meta aka Facebook and reported to NCMEC) noted the dates of the offense(s) to be in August, 2023 with an offense location W6060 Durst Road in the Town of New Glarus...," the complaint said. "The contraband media was initially reported by Facebook (Meta) to NCMEC which prompted the NCMEC cybertip report." 

NCMEC works with law enforcement around the country to coordinate tips and investigations into child pornography. In the Wesley investigation, authorities said there were six files of child pornography allegedly identified and one still photograph of "shirtless" male that "appears to be the defendant." 

Among the files depicting children in sexual acts are one file that also depicts a dog engaging in a sexual act with a minor child, the complaint said. According to court records, Wesley remained in custody at Green County Jail on a $7,500 bond. His next court appearance on the charge is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 4.

If convicted, Wesley faces a maximum sentence for each count of three years in prison. He also faces lifetime registration as a sex offender. At a May 1 hearing, the defendant stood mute on the charges and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Court records show no other previous arrests for the defendant in Green County, other than traffic citations. However, Wesley has a 2022 conviction in Rock County for possession of cocaine.