Grady County detention officer arrested for child exploitation

PAULS VALLEY, Okla. (KFOR) — A detention officer in Grady County has been arrested for child phonography.

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office worked with the Garvin County Sheriff's Office to arrest 27-year-old Benny Christopher Weldon.

Police were tipped off on July 23rd indicating Weldon had several illegal videos and images.

Police said Weldon admitted to using dark websites and apps to collect the child pornography. He also admitted to knowingly sending the images and videos to people he had met online over the past four to six months.

The Garvin County Sheriff's office confirmed that Weldon was a detention officer and before that, worked for the Garvin County Sheriff's Office.

"I don't have any information whatsoever based off of our investigation that he was ever doing anything while working for the Garvin County Sheriff's Office," said Jim Mullet, Garvin County Sheriff.

Weldon was charged with the distribution of child pornography, sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 12, violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, and engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses.