A federal grand jury has indicted a North Platte couple after they allegedly conspired and attempted to distribute child pornography.

The couple, 30-year-old William Jones and 35-year-old Rayanne Paulmann were indicted on three counts:

• Count I charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute child pornography on or about June of 2015 and continuing to on or about December 11, 2015.  The maximum penalty, if convicted, is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, five years to life of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
• Counts II and III charge the defendants with attempted distribution of child pornography between June of 2015 and December 11, 2015. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 5 years to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.

The case stems from a December arrest.

According to Lieutenant Steve Reeves with the North Platte Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was alerted after someone tried to transfer images of child pornography via a social media account.  They determined that the computer was located in North Platte.

The Nebraska Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which includes the North Platte Police Department, was notified and an investigation was initiated.

Reeves said legal process was served on the social media provider, which led to identifying William Jones and Rayanne Paulman as the suspects.

On December 11, a search warrant was executed on the couple’s home in the 2300 block of East Philip Avenue.

Cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices were analyzed using special preview software, and illegal child pornography images were discovered.

Local law enforcement was notified and, at around 4:30 pm on December 11, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office located Jones and Paulman in Hershey.

Jones and Paulman were held in the Lincoln County Detention Center until they were taken into federal custody.