TERRE HAUTE (IN)
WLWT - NBC 5 [Cincinnati OH]
September 1, 2026
By Fletcher Keel
An Indiana pastor has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material charges, according to the Indiana State Police.
ISP says the department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, with assistance from Terre Haute police and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, arrested Daniel Willis, following the execution of a residential search warrant.
Troopers say an investigation was initiated earlier this year after ISP received multiple tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a second unnamed company.
According to ISP, a “variety of investigative” techniques were used, which resulted in a search warrant for Willis’ home and place of employment, where Willis worked as a senior pastor.
ISP did not identify the church Willis served as a pastor at, but did say the search warrant was executed in Terre Haute.
Willis also served in a volunteer capacity as a chaplain for the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Derek Fell says Willis was dismissed from serving “in any capacity” within the agency in 2018.
“We applaud the investigative efforts of those involved in bringing this case to the point it currently stands,” a statement from Fell says on the department’s Facebook page. “We will continue to standby (sic), support, and actively search for and apprehend those who prey upon our children – regardless of who they are, where they are employed or have been employed. Crimes against children have no place in our society.”
Investigators say they seized electronic and digital media devices as part of the warrant’s execution. Forensic examinations led to the discovery of child abuse files.
Officials say Willis was arrested without incident and transported to the Vigo County Jail. Willis has been charged with 10 counts of possession of child sex abuse material (under 12), which are Level 4 felonies.