Franklin County man arrested by federal agents for child pornography

FRANKLIN COUNTY — A 34-year-old man was arrested in Franklin County by federal agents Tuesday for possession of child pornography.

According to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Michael Thomas Baird for 11 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Baird was booked into the Cache County Jail in Logan, Utah, on a bond of $250,000.

The affidavit of probable cause has not been filed with the courts, so there is little detail available about the case.

“I’m consistently proud of the work our ICAC Task Force does to protect kids across Idaho,” said Idaho Attorney General Labrador in the release. “The number and diversity of agencies that have partnered and assisted us continues to grow. I’m glad we can count on so many different organizations when it comes to keeping predators out of our communities.”

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Pocatello Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Preston Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Department of Corrections Probation and Parole (District 6), Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the Idaho State Brand Inspector. all assisted with the arrest.

Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at (208) 947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

The Idaho ICAC Task Force is a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.

Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.