Officer(s) Involved: Probationary Police Officer Owen Halls, 22
Synopsis: The investigation into Owen Mills began on 24 March 2025. The Kaukauna Police Department received an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) tip. The tip was linked to an address in Kaukauna, and it was determined Halls was the suspect in the case.
On 25 March 2025, evidence was presented to Neenah Police Chief Aaron Olson, and a plan was made to have Halls arrested. On 26 March 2025, multiple search warrants were executed by Kaukauna police. Records indicate Halls was booked into Outagamie County Jail the same day.
Halls is scheduled to appear in court next at 9 a.m. May 5 for further proceedings.
Outcome: Halls appears to have posted bond and is awaiting trial or other case disposition at the time of publication.
According to the Criminal Complaint:
- On 19 September 2024, a school resource officer from the Kaukauna Police Department—who also worked for Kaukauna police as a member of the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force—reviewed a digital CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip stated that two videos of child pornography had been uploaded on 10 June 2024, and were linked to an email address.
- Through warrants and subpoenas, the officer was able to connect the email address linked to the Cybertip to an address in Kaukauna.
- Four people, including Halls, lived at the address at the time.
- Police “later made contact with Halls,” according to the complaint, although it does not specify if that meeting happened Wednesday, prior to Halls’ arrest.
- When police asked if Owen had an account for Telegram—a messaging application—he admitted he did, for “pictures of females that are not (his) girlfriend,” the complaint states. He later stated he had an account with Kik, another messaging app, for similar purposes.
- Halls recognized the Internet Crimes Against Children insignia on one of the officer’s belongings, and asked if they were speaking to him about something “ICAC related,” the complaint states.
- Halls told the officers, “I’m sure you guys are aware of what’s been going on.” When asked to clarify, Halls explained there is a website that includes links to different pornographic content, and sometimes the links contain people who are underage.
- “I know there’s links out there that are of underage people and I’m not going to lie, when you get sent the link, I’m probably going to get myself into a load of crap here, but when you get the link it doesn’t say what’s on it so then if you search it you don’t know what’s going to be next,” Halls said, according to the complaint.
- Halls said if he notices any underage content, he closes out of it. He said he “probably should” report it, but has not done that.
- Halls told the officers it was “possible” that he unintentionally viewed child sexual abuse material within the last month.
- Halls described child pornography he claimed he had accidentally come across, but said “my intent is always to keep it with adults,” the complaint states.
- When an officer informed Halls that they had seen content from his account “of early teenagers under the age of 18 performing sex acts,” Halls nodded affirmatively and said “mmhmm,” the complaint states.
Additional Information: Under Wisconsin law, if Halls is convicted, each possession of child pornography count carries a minimum sentence of three years in prison. The maximum term of imprisonment for each count is fifteen years in prison and ten years of extended supervision.
