The Butte County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a Cohasset man for allegedly possessing child pornography on a laptop computer. BCSO reports that it received information that 56-year-old Michael Markham had a laptop computer containing child pornography.

BCSO says deputies took possession of the laptop and detectives authored a search warrant allowing them to search the computer. Detectives claim to have located more than 600 images of child pornography and multiple videos containing child pornography.

BCSO says some of the pornography depicted sexual sadism which inflicts pain for the purpose of sexual gratification or stimulation. Detectives say they also found evidence confirming the laptop belonged to Markham.

On July 31, 2024, detectives carried out a search warrant at Markham’s residence in the 300 block of Hollow Oak Drive. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant as well. Detectives and California Highway Patrol officers arrested Markham on August 1, 2024.

He was booked into the Butte County Jail for a felony count of possession of child pornography, a felony count of possession of over 600 images of child pornography, and a felony count of possession of child pornography depicting sexual sadism.