DETROIT – A registered sex offender allegedly admitted investigators would find child sexually abusive material on his phone in his Detroit bedroom, and the feds said they found more than 500 images and videos that met the federal definition of child pornography.
Arthur Louis Jarvis, 65, of Detroit is accused of transporting, receiving and possessing child pornography in a three-count federal criminal complaint filed Aug. 19.
The investigation began after Detroit Police said they received a tip March 16 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip, submitted by Google, said a user had uploaded about 13 files of child sexually abusive material beginning May 26, 2025, the complaint said.
A special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) out of Detroit said they reviewed the 13 files and determined they met the federal definition of child pornography. The files allegedly depicted nude girls approximately “4 to 12 years old, posed in sexual positions.”
Jarvis’ criminal convictions
According to the complaint, Google identified Jarvis as someone associated with the account and provided phone numbers, email, and IP addresses to federal investigators. Detroit investigators said they then linked Jarvis to the account and a Detroit group home where he lived.
Jarvis, according to court records, is a registered sex offender who was convicted twice in Michigan. He was first convicted in October 2002 of felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
While on parole in July 2011, Jarvis, court records show, physically and sexually assaulted the same victim. He pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm. He was sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison with a lifetime of parole, and began parole in October 2023, records show.
Jarvis talks to investigators
On March 24, Detroit police said they searched the group home. Jarvis was inside, and investigators found three cellphones and two tablets from his private bedroom, the complaint said. A preliminary review of the devices found child sexually abusive material, the feds said.
Jarvis agreed to speak with detectives and acknowledged there would be child sexually abusive material on the devices, the feds said. Jarvis also allegedly said he found the photos online while searching for war games on his government phone.
The feds said Jarvis told detectives he first viewed the images while at Team Wellness, which would have been sometime between April and December 2024. When asked how many images were on his devices, Jarvis allegedly said, “about 20, maybe more.”
But investigators said they later found more than 190 photos in a folder that met the federal definition of child pornography. They said they also found an explicit video that appeared to have been downloaded on Dec. 10, 2025. The video allegedly showed a female approximately 13 to 15 years old in a sexually exploitive manner.
Investigators said they also found “more than 350 photos” that met the federal definition of child pornography on a tablet that was seized. They also found another explicit video that appeared to have been downloaded more recently: March 14, 2026. This video also allegedly showed a female approximately 13 to 15 years old in a sexually exploitive manner.
The feds said they were later able to link the cellphone number and tablet to the Google account identified in the NCMEC tip and with Jarvis. One number was also allegedly listed as his primary contact number with the Michigan Department of Corrections Parole Office.
Jarvis’ alleged search history
According to the complaint, investigators also found search terms entered on the tablet between March 7 and March 10, including “8-12yonudism,” “Childnudismnaturismpics,” “4-12yonudism” and “pictures of nude pre teens naked.” The first phrase was used eight times, the second 27 times, the third 24 times and the fourth 36 times, according to the feds.
Other searches included “underagenudismpicsshower,” “underagenudismpics,” “underage13video,” “childnudism” and “nudism14years,” among others, the feds said.
Jarvis is incarcerated at the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia in connection with a different case, records show. His initial appearance in this case has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 8 in Detroit.