Kokomo man arrested for possession of child porn
Also, Food Finders warns shortages ahead
This article is brought to you by Freedom Financial.
On July 7, 2025, an investigation was initiated pertaining to possession of child sexual abuse material (child pornography).
Following the initiation of this investigation, detectives with the Kokomo Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Section, Digital Crimes Unit, and Indiana Internet Crimes Against Child Task Force (ICAC) continued with this investigation.
On July 16, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m., a search warrant was executed in the 1500 block of East Barkdol Street in connection with this investigation.
Following the execution of this search warrant, Michael Slusher, age 59, was charged with five counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (Child Pornography) IC 35-42-4-4, each a level 5 felony.
If the public has any information regarding child sexual abuse material or child exploitation, please contact the Kokomo Police Department or report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-843-5678 or at https://www.missingkids.org
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sergeant Andrew Grammer at 765-456-7411, or agrammer@cityofkokomo.org You may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-262-TIPS with your anonymous tip.
You can always report tips anonymous anonymously by downloading the Kokomo PD mobile app from the iOS or Google play stores. You can also text a tip by texting TIPKPD, then a space, and then your tip, and send it to 847411.
Remember, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Food Finders warns shortages ahead
On July 4, the President signed the biggest cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid in a generation. The budget reconciliation bill will take food and health care from millions of children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities in Indiana and across the country.
At a time when food insecurity is rising nationwide and the cost of food and health care remains high, this legislation will worsen the crisis. Food Finders is deeply concerned that these cuts will eliminate the equivalent of around 6 billion meals each year and strip health care coverage from at least 8 million people.
For context, the entire Feeding America network, of which Food Finders is a part of, including more than 200 food banks and 60,000 faith-based and charitable partners, distributed nearly 6 billion meals last year. These cuts will increase challenges for people facing hunger who are doing everything they can to get by and place even greater pressure on food banks and meal programs responding to the growing need.
“We know that good policies can reduce hunger and improve health,” said Kier Crites Muller, Food Finders’ president/CEO. “But this legislation is a significant setback for people and communities already facing barriers to accessing the food and resources they need to thrive.
“With the sustained high cost of food and health care, this is not the time to scale back essential programs that help families stay afloat. People in Food Finders’ 16-county service area work hard every day to build better lives, but they need a strong foundation to succeed. Access to food and health care is that foundation.”
Food Finders will work with federal and state lawmakers to find ways to support neighbors facing hunger who will be impacted by this bill in the coming months and years. Its goal is to ensure that it has the necessary resources to continue to provide the families it serves with the nutritious food they need to learn, work, and thrive.
For the children, seniors, veterans and families Food Finders serves, these programs are more than budget line items -- they are lifelines. Now more than ever, lawmakers and everyone in the community need to understand what’s at stake and work together to strengthen the foundation that helps families in the community thrive.
Food Finders will hold a mobile food pantry in Howard County today, July 17, beginning at 10 a.m. at New Life Church, 1803 E. Vaile Ave. This pantry is sponsored by the Community Foundation serving Howard, Clinton & Carroll Counties.