Greenwood ice cream shop to reopen after child porn charges against former owner

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — A popular ice cream shop in Greenwood will reopen after the Friday arrest of its owner on charges of possessing child pornography. 

Mrs. Curl Ice Cream Shop and Outdoor Cafe, 259 S. Meridian St., said in a Saturday night social media post that John Cassin, who was charged Friday with two felony counts of possession of child pornography, would be stepping aside from his role at the business.

In the post, the ice cream shop said the shop’s ownership had changed in January because of Cassin’s age and pending retirement and that Cassin’s “partners wish to reopen the business” on Sunday “and keep providing jobs to our employees and great ice cream and food that you’ve grown to love.”

News 8 newsgathering partner The Daily Journal reports Cassin had owned Mrs. Curl since 1997. Mrs. Curl has served patrons at its site on Meridian Street, south of Main Street, for more than five decades.

According to the probable cause affidavit, authorities in Greenwood received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. An initial investigation into Cassin began in October by the Greenwood Police Department. 

Investigators said they connected Cassin to an IP address, a numeric designation on the internet, that uploaded a pornographic file depicting a juvenile. Authorities obtained a search warrant at Cassin’s home in Whiteland and discovered several web addresses containing child pornography had been accessed. 

Cassin told police he “just clicks on stuff” and might have accidentally uploaded something. When an investigator showed him the photo they received as part of the tip, Cassin said he had seen the image before and knew the child was under the age of 18.

Cassin faces up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted. No initial hearing has been set. Online jail records did not have any information on Cassin.