Popular YouTuber Arrested for Child Exploitation
A well-known influencer and YouTube creator, recognized as “Mr. Crafty Pants,” has been arrested for allegedly possessing and distributing disturbing sexual images of children on social media.
Michael David Booth, who runs a YouTube channel featuring arts and crafts tutorials and boasts around 600,000 subscribers, was taken into custody in Kentucky on Wednesday. This came after it was reported that he repeatedly shared shocking images on the Kik messaging app.
According to details from an arrest report, Booth had six explicit photos, with three involving children under 12 and one featuring a teenager. He is said to have shared these images with other users more than 15 times between early August.
The police began their investigation into the 39-year-old after Kik flagged his account, which was tied to his home in Norton Commons.
Neighbor Laura Nash expressed her fears, saying, “It’s scary to think what he had access to.” She mentioned that she quickly checked in with her children following his arrest.
Nash described the situation as emotionally overwhelming, adding, “I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. It really makes me feel weak. It’s scary as a mother to hear things like this. It just reminds me that I’m not safe anywhere.” She characterized their neighborhood as “family-friendly” and was concerned about Booth’s followers, including many of her friends online.
“I know he followed a lot of my friends online, so it worries me how he saw their lives,” she shared.
Booth faces serious charges relating to the possession and distribution of material depicting sexual acts by a minor. Reports indicated that he had received warnings about his online behavior.
If released on bail, which is set at $150,000, Booth would be subject to home detention and could not access the internet.
He is due to appear in court soon.
