Mother-of-two is charged in child pornography case involving an ex-firefighter who dressed as clown for kid-safety program

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A mother-of-two has been charged in connection with a child pornography and bestiality case that has also landed a fire department clown behind bars.

US Marshals arrested Melissa Skelton, 36, in Oklahoma on Friday on charges of child sexual abuse and conspiracy to commit sexual abuse for allegedly allowing former Muskogee firefighter Zackery Perry, 30, to molest a six-year-old girl in her care.

According to police, Skelton's name came up while they were investigating Perry, who was arrested in late January on felony counts of aggravated possession of child pornography, publishing, distributing or participating in obscene material, child sexual exploitation and crimes against nature involving his dog.

Second arrest: Police in Oklahoma have arrested Melissa Skelton, 36 (left), on charges of child sexual abuse and conspiracy to commit sexual abuse for allegedly allowing former Muskogee firefighter Zackery Perry (right), 30, to molest a six-year-old girl

Disgraced: Perry, a former Muskogee firefighter, was arrested in January on counts of aggravated possession of child porn, child sexual exploitation and crimes against nature 

Police say they have found photos showing the young victim standing naked in Perry's kitchen.

Skelton also allegedly took pornographic photos of herself and the six-year-old girl and sold them to Perry.  

In the wake of Skelton's arrest, Perry is now facing additional charges of human trafficking, child sexual abuse and conspiracy to commit child sexual abuse. the new criminal counts will be forwarded to the district attorney for review. 

Entertainer: Perry had been part of the fire department’s Clown Society, performing under the stage name ‘Scooter’ (pictured in makeup) at events catering to children.

Perry joined the Muskogee Fire Department in August 2014 and was part of the department’s Clown Society, performing under the stage name ‘Scooter’ at events catering to children.

Firefighters involved with the non-profit group dress up as clowns and put on skits to teach kids about fire prevention. 

Police launched an investigation into Perry after getting a tip on January 5 from a mother who claimed the firefighter had asked her to provide him with photos of her eight-year-old daughter, from the neck down, on social media app Kik, according to Norman Transcript.

The 30-year-old was taken into police custody the following day on suspicion of sending messages and videos containing child pornography.

The same day, police served a search warrant at Perry's home on Haskell Boulevard and seized various electronic devices, among them four computers, eight smartphones, cameras, as well as three pairs of girls' underwear and a girl’s shirt, reported Tulsa World. 

According to a probable cause affidavit, cited by the paper, a search of Perry's cell phones turned up 1,378 images and videos depicting child pornography.

The divorced mother-of-two was arrested after her name came up during the Zackery Perry investigation. Skelton is suspected of renting out the 6-year-old to Perry and selling him homemade child porn   

The document went on to say that investigators also recovered photos, videos and text messages on the suspect’s device suggesting that the 30-year-old 'had been involved in or facilitated the recordings of sexual acts between an adult female and a dog.'

Some of the images and texts recovered from Perry's devices eventually led police to Melissa Skelton, reported the station News on 6.  

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in connection to Skelton's arrest, the divorced mother-of-two from Stillwell, Oklahoma, let Perry take a 6-year-old to Muskogee for the night in exchange for a fee between November 2015 and December 2016.

Following his arrest, Perry was put on administrative leave before resigning on January 11. 

Perry and Skelton are both being held in the Muskogee County Jail without bond. 

They are due back in court on February 21.