By RYAN SKAITH
A Lebanon, Missouri man faces felony charges following an investigation into the online distribution of child sexual abuse material, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control.
David A. Larger, 34, was arrested after a specialized probe by the DDCC’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) identified him as a suspect in an ongoing child pornography investigation.
The investigation was initiated in January 2026 after SVU investigators received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip indicated that an online user had uploaded child sexual abuse material, which investigators later confirmed as child pornography. Following a preliminary investigation, authorities identified Larger as the primary suspect in the case.
On March 19, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Lebanon. During the operation, SVU investigators interviewed Larger and seized evidence related to the investigation. Larger was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Laclede County Jail, where he was held on a 24-hour investigative hold while a probable cause statement was submitted to the local prosecutor.
The Laclede County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Larger on March 20, 2026, with one count of first-degree possession of child pornography and one count of first-degree promoting child pornography. Both charges are felonies. Larger is currently being held at the Laclede County Jail without bond.
The DDCC Special Victims Unit was assisted in the investigation by the Lebanon Police Department, the State Technical Assistance Team, and the Missouri Digital Forensic Center. Authorities continue to encourage the public to report any instances of inappropriate or sexualized communications with children to the Missouri State Highway Patrol or local law enforcement agencies.