Benson

A Marshalltown man has been charged with over 300 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor over allegations that he possessed a large amount of child pornography.

Michael Lynn Benson, 65, was taken into custody outside of his residence on Thursday afternoon. In January of 2024, the Marshalltown Police Department (MPD) started an investigation into the possibility of an individual in possession of child pornography, according to a press release. A search warrant for the residence of the suspect was obtained and served in February of 2024, and evidence was seized during that search warrant.

Over the next 12 months, MPD detectives went through a large amount of data that was collected, and on April 23, arrest warrants were applied for and granted. The following day, the suspect was arrested and charged with 329 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, each a Class D felony.

As of Thursday evening, Benson was being held in the Marshall County Jail. Hearing and trial dates were not yet available online at presstime.