LIBERTY, K (February 25, 2026) - On Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at approximately 3:21 p.m., the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crime Branch located and arrested Thomas Hagen Woods, 34, on charges related to a child sexual abuse material investigation.
Woods was located, interviewed and arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect distributing sexually explicit images of juveniles online.
The investigation resulted in executing a search warrant at a residence in Liberty on February 24, 2026. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination. The investigation is still ongoing.
Woods is currently charged with one count of promoting a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance, twenty counts of possessing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance, seven counts of distributing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance, procuring or promoting the use of a minor by an electronic means, and seven counts of distributing obscene matter to a minor. Promoting a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance is a Class-B felony punishable by 10-20 years in prison, possessing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance, distributing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance, and procuring and promoting the use of a minor by an electronic means are all Class-C felonies punishable by 5-10 years in prison. The last charge of distributing obscene matter to a minor is a Class-A misdemeanor punishable up to one year in jail. Woods was lodged in the Casey County Detention Center.
The Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is comprised of more than twenty-six local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The mission of the ICAC Task Force, created by the United States Department of Justice and administrated by the Kentucky State Police, is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention, and community education. The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.
