Online Tip Leads to Arrest in Windsor Child Exploitation Case

New York State Police say a Windsor man was taken into custody early on the morning of January 9 after an investigation into online activity connected to child exploitation.

Windsor Man Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges After Online Investigation

Troopers arrested 34-year-old Mitchell A. Colburn around 7:36 a.m. and charged him with promoting a sexual performance by a child under 17, a class D felony, and possessing a sexual performance by a child under 16, a class E felony. Authorities say the charges are connected to alleged possession and sharing of child sexual abuse material.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Tip Initiates Police Probe

According to State Police, the case started with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which monitors and receives reports about suspicious online activity involving minors.

The referral was then passed along to investigators in New York for follow-up. From there, members of the Troop C Computer Crime Unit and the Binghamton Bureau of Criminal Investigation collaborated to investigate the report and determine next steps.

Police Execute Search Warrant, Gather Evidence Leading to Charges

As part of the investigation, police say they obtained and carried out a search warrant at Colburn’s residence in Windsor. Details about what was seized during the search have not been released, but authorities say the evidence collected led to the filing of the charges.

After the search, Colburn was processed at State Police headquarters in Binghamton.

Suspect Arraigned at Broome County Jail

Following processing, Colburn was taken to the Broome County Jail for centralized arraignment, where a judge would review the charges and set conditions of release or detention.

As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and Colburn is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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Online Safety Groups Help Stop Child Exploitation

Cases like this often begin with reports from organizations that track online platforms and digital activity involving children. Law enforcement agencies rely heavily on those referrals to identify potential threats and intervene when necessary.

If you ever come across content or behavior online that raises concerns about child safety, experts say reporting it through the proper channels can help protect children and provide investigators with the information they need to act.

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