Warren County – A joint investigation between the Indiana State Police, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Tippecanoe County High Tech Crimes Unit, and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office led to the arrest of an Otterbein man.
The investigation began in April 2025, when the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the course of the investigation, officers located images and videos that allegedly depicted children appearing to be under the age of 12 being sexually abused. Detectives ultimately gathered evidence leading them to believe that these images and videos belonged to Miguel Casas, 29, of Otterbein, Indiana, and that the incidents occurred in Warren County.
Working closely with the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Miguel Casas, as well as multiple search warrants. On June 11, 2025, officers conducted a traffic stop on Casas’s vehicle and safely took him into custody. At the same time, detectives served search warrants at his residence and two additional locations.
During the course of these searches, detectives gathered further evidence indicating that some of the incidents that were believed to have taken place in Warren County may have actually occurred in Tippecanoe County. The case will be forwarded to the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office for review to determine whether additional charges will be filed.
Miguel Casas, 29, of Otterbein, IN, is being held at the Warren County Jail on the following charges:
1. Child Molesting – Defendant Being at Least 21 Years of Age – Level 1 Felony (2 counts)
2. Child Molesting – Fondling or Touching with a Child Under the Age of 14 – Level 4 Felony (2 counts)
3. Child Exploitation – Includes Aggravating Circumstances – Level 4 Felony (4 counts)
The Indiana State Police takes the protection of children and the investigation of crimes against them with the utmost seriousness. These cases require significant time, resources, and dedication from law enforcement agencies to ensure that those who exploit and harm children are identified and held accountable. The agency’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding vulnerable children is reflected in its thorough pursuit of these cases and the strong partnerships built with fellow law enforcement and prosecutorial offices.
Detectives from the Indiana State Police Lafayette District Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office led this joint investigation. They were assisted by troopers from the Lafayette Post, the Tippecanoe County High Tech Crimes Unit, the Lafayette Police Department, the Purdue University Police Department, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.