A 29-year-old man was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of child exploitation, announced Attorney General Jim Hood.

Stephen Vail Schubring, of Pearl, was arrested at his home after an investigation into his suspicious online activity. He was booked into the Rankin County jail and charged with one count of child exploitation for possession of child pornography.

If convicted, Schubring faces up to 40 years in prison. A charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with assistance from the Pearl Police Department, which is an ICAC affiliate. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Brandon Ogburn.