FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): A convicted sex offender has been arrested following a child exploitation investigation launched after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Fort Wayne Police say 33-year-old Brendan Chivington was taken into custody Wednesday after investigators executed a search warrant at his residence and allegedly discovered child sexual abuse material on electronic devices seized during the search.
The investigation began last month after the department received a complaint from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Detective Sgt. James Haupert was assigned to the case and identified Chivington as a suspect, according to police.
Chivington has a lengthy history of sex offender-related convictions. In 2020, he was sentenced to one year in the Kosciusko County Jail after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. He was later charged with failing to register as a sex offender in 2021 and received a sentence that included home detention through Allen County Community Corrections.
In 2023, Chivington was again sentenced for failing to register, this time receiving two years in Allen County Community Corrections’ residential program.
Following Wednesday’s search, police say Chivington is being held on preliminary charges of child exploitation and failure to register as a sex offender.
Formal charges will be determined by prosecutors after reviewing the case. As with all criminal cases, the allegations remain accusations, and Chivington is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
