by Suzanne Spencer, WSBT
Photo: Jhaymesisviphotography / CC BY 2.0 via MGN Online
LAPORTE, Ind. — LaPorte County officials are calling the circulation of a video that depicts sexual child abuse, one of the worst cases of "sex extortion" in the area.
Authorities said a LaPorte High School resource officer was informed on Thursday of a video depicting child sexual abuse. LaPorte County law enforcement officials said it was posted to numerous social networking sites, linked to numerous local accounts and was being viewed and distributed across the internet, including Facebook live.
Investigators sent a "robo-call" to high school parents shortly after the discovery. Law enforcement warned that anyone who possessed or distributed the video could face felony child pornography charges.
The FBI, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the Indiana ICAC Task Force are investigating alongside the LaPorte County Prosecutor and Sheriff's Department.
A news release said that initial investigatory efforts were to stop further distribution of the video. Now, according to the prosecutor, efforts will change toward tracing the origins of the video to a specific person.
"Investigators believe that this may possibly be one of the worst cases of 'sex-extortion' to be investigated in this area," said a release.
Sheriff John Boyd and the prosecutor said the child and their family "appear to have been victimized by a particularly heinous crime."
Law enforcement officials urged the public "to refrain from jumping to conclusions" and to "avoid the kind of speculation that can only further victimize the family and impede the investigation."
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