Two Park Hills, MO Men Arrested For Child Pornography

As the result of a two-day operation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control has arrested two men in St. Francois County on child pornography charges

MSHP says the operation resulted in the arrest of two unassociated men of Park Hills, MO. 40-year old Shaun M. Braswell was arrested on Wednesday, July 24 for promoting child pornography, and 63-year old Tony B. Hastings was arrested on Thursday, July 25 for possession of child pornography.

Both arrests were reportedly the result of investigations conducted by members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigative Unit.

On Wednesday, investigators executed a search warrant at Braswell’s residence located on Westwind Drive in Park Hills. As a result of their search, investigators seized evidence of child pornography and computer equipment. Braswell was arrested and taken to the St. Francois County Jail. Then on Thursday, July 25, the St. Francois County Prosecutor's Office formally charged Braswell with one count of promoting child pornography. Bond was set at $50,000.

In a separate case on Thursday, investigators executed a search warrant at Hastings’ residence located on Mill Street in Park Hills. As a result of the search, authorities reportedly seized evidence of child pornography and computer equipment. Hastings was arrested and taken to the St. Francois County Jail.

On Friday, July 26, the St. Francois County Prosecutor's Office formally charged Hastings with one count of possession of child pornography. His bond was set at $30,000.

During the operation, the Patrol was assisted by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office and the Park Hills Police Department.