On June 4, 2025, Atchison County Deputies, with assistance from the Cyber Crimes Task Force, arrested James Richard Ball of Fairfax, Missouri, for suspicion of Possession of Child Pornography and Child Molestation.

A Probable Cause Statement was filed June 4 with the Atchison County Prosecutor’s Office, resulting in a warrant being issued by the Atchison County Circuit Court on charges of Possession of Child Pornography – 1st Offense and Sodomy 1st Degree – Aggravated Sexual Offense.

On June 18, 2025, Atchison County Deputies, as part of the ongoing investigation, filed an amended Probable Cause Statement with the Atchison County Prosecutor’s Office, resulting in 17 additional counts of Possession of Child Pornography and one  count of Child Molestation in the 2nd Degree.

Mr. Ball continues to be held with no bond at this time. Further charges are pending as this is an ongoing investigation. (All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)