National Guard member set to deploy to Africa is arrested in El Paso on child pornography charges

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- According to the Stillwater Police Department in Oklahoma, law enforcement officers in El Paso arrested 28-year-old Alexander Michael Stephenson on two child pornography charges.

Just before his arrest, Stephenson was scheduled to deploy in Africa as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard, according to a spokesperson with the Stillwater Police Department. He was taken into custody in El Paso after an arrest warrant was issued May 11. ABC-7 is working to learn why Stephenson was in El Paso. He was arraigned in Payne County, Oklahoma May 18.

Officials tell ABC-7 Stephenson is charged with Possession of Child Pornography and Distribution of Child Pornography. They say detectives received an online tip saying Stephenson was allegedly using the social media app Kik to upload and share alleged child sex abuse material.