A Steamboat man was arrested for allegedly possessing over 100 photos and videos of child sexual abuse material on Saturday, according to court documents.

Douglas Matthews, 70, is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child as a Class 4 felony and 104 counts of sexual exploitation of a child as a Class 5 felony.

On Dec. 31, 2024, the Steamboat Springs Police Department received a report from the Internet Crimes Against Children, linking a sexually explicit photo of a child to Matthews’ computer IP address, according to the arrest affidavit.

In April this year, Steamboat police searched Matthews’ residence on Riverside Drive. While police searched his residence, Matthews “denied viewing child porn knowingly,” the document states.

Law enforcement confiscated two laptops, one phone, one tablet and one desktop computer from Matthews’ residence. Police then reviewed the evidence and sent both laptops to the Aspen Police Department to be analyzed by the High Tech Crimes Division for a forensic download.

After completing the forensic download, police found 104 “still images of sexually exploitative material” of children between 1 and 14 years old, according to the affidavit. Police also found three videos of child sexual abuse material.

The images included “prepubescent and pubescent children engaging in sexual acts with both adult and other children,” the document continues.

The affidavit states that Matthews had allegedly “visited 365 websites relating to human trafficking, specifically escort services,” and adds that police were “concerned that Matthews’ sexual deviant criminal behaviors are escalating from viewing sexually explicit material to acting out on it.”

Matthews was released from Routt County Jail on Sunday after posting a $5,000 bond. He was also issued a protection order, barring him from contacting anyone under 18 years old or accessing the internet, according to a protection order document filed in the case.

During an appearance on bond Tuesday morning at the Routt County Combined Courts, Matthews’ attorney, Stacy Marczak-Grande, said she is reviewing the case’s “voluminous file.”

Matthews’ next court date is scheduled for Jan. 6.

Anyone involved in human trafficking is encouraged to reach out to the confidential Advocates of Routt County 24/7 Safe Line at 970-879-8888 or SafeLine@AdvocatesRC.org.

To reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.

Editor’s note: Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.