Missing Pennsylvania child located during traffic stop, Missouri man charged with possession of child pornography

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KQTV) -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) arrested a Seneca, Missouri man in connection with a missing person and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) investigation.

Michale L. Colchado, 18, of Seneca, Missouri was arrested on April 3. Troopers obtained an investigative tip regarding a missing Pennsylvania child who was possibly traveling on Interstate 44, within Laclede County.

The tip was part of a larger ongoing missing person investigation being conducted by Pennsylvania authorities, along with FBI investigators.

A trooper located a vehicle traveling on I-44, near Conway, Missouri, and conducted a traffic stop based on the investigative tip.

During the stop, troopers located the juvenile in the vehicle being operated by Colchado. Troopers also obtained evidence that Colchado traveled to Pennsylvania to pick up the juvenile and then back to Missouri.

Evidence identified at CSAM on an electric device was recovered from the vehicle. Colchado was arrested and transported to the Laclede County Sheriff's Office and placed on an investigative hold.

Investigators sent a probable cause statement to the Lacelde County Prosecutor seeking felony charges.

On April 4, the Laclede County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Colchado with three counts of possession of child pornography, a felony. Colchado is being held in the Laclede County Jail without bond, and the juvenile was returned home safety.

The DDCC was assisted by the Lebanon Police Department, Laclede County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).