Cyber Tip Leads to Arrest of Oklahoma National Guard Member

(STILLWATER, OK) – On Thursday, May 11, an arrest warrant was issued for Alexander Michael Stephenson, 28, of Stillwater for Possession of Child Pornography and Distribution of Child Pornography. Stephenson was arrested on his warrant in El Paso, Texas and had an arraignment hearing in Payne County on Thursday, May 18.

Stephenson was set to deploy with the Oklahoma National Guard to Africa prior to his arrest.

Stillwater Police Department Detective Wheeler received a cyber tip on September 29, 2022, from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The cyber tip received from NCMEC indicated a suspect using social media app Kik uploaded/shared apparent child sexual abuse material.

Detective Wheeler, member of the Criminal Investigations Unit and cross-commissioned member of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), began a thorough investigation to identify the suspect.

Detective Wheeler worked alongside investigators with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division to secure the identity and arrest of Stephenson.

This is an arrest, not a conviction.