Jared Foundation executive director arrested for child porn

Photo of Russell Taylor. (Provided Photo)

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – An Indianapolis man has been arrested and preliminarily charged with nine felonies related to child pornography.

According to the Indiana State Police (ISP), Russell Taylor, 43, was arrested on three counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of child exploitation, and three counts of voyeurism.

ISP said a concerned citizen call tipped off police, after they received a text message from Russell. Police obtained a search warrant and searched his Indianapolis residence.

He was arrested on Wednesday and booked at the Marion County Processing Center. A bond has not been set.

If convicted on all nine felonies, the maximum punishment for Taylor could be 33 years in prison and a fine up to $90,000.

Taylor is listed as the executive director for the Jared Foundation, which is a not-for-profit that helps children deal with childhood obesity. It was started by the Subway spokesman and Indianapolis native, Jared Fogle, in 2004.

Every neighborhood has a Cathy Vaden. She described herself as the neighbor who keeps more than just an eye out.

“Baby, I watch everything. I’m the type of mother and grandmother that I’m nosey as heck,” Vaden said.

This morning was no exception. “I seen everything from when it happened and unfolded,” she said as she pointed at a home from her deck.

Directly across from her back yard, the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force was searching inside a home.

“Couple of police cars and a great big van type thing. I don’t know if it was paddy wagon or what it was,” described neighbor William Stout.

Inside, investigators say they found evidence of child pornorgraphy. The homeowner, Russell Taylor, was arrested. That news did not sit well with Vaden.

“If I knew he was a child pornographer, I’d have kicked his you know what. I’d of had the police here a long time ago. Seriously, because we got kids around here,” she said.

Her concern only grew after learning Russell was the executive director of the Jared Foundation, an organization that helps fight child obesity while teaching kids healthy habits.

“It’s sickening. It’s really really sickening,” she said.

Around the corner from Taylor’s home is a school with a playground. Neighbors were worried about children who walked around the area. Now they just hope they don’t have to worry anymore.

“I’m glad they got him,” Vaden said. “He needs to be up (and) out of here.”