17 arrested for child pornography, in Fla, include
Disney employees, nurse, underwear ‘ingester’
by: WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd detailed the arrests and charges of 17 suspects, including Disney and hospital employees, accused of downloading or distributing child pornography featuring children as young as a few months old.
“These folks are deviants,” Judd said.
The sheriff went on to detail a number of the arrests, most notably two Disney World employees, a nurse, an undocumented immigrant, a 49-year-old Winter Haven man, and an IT specialist Judd said liked to purchase and digest soiled underwear.
The takedown, dubbed ‘Operation Guardians of Innocence V’, resulted in a total of over 1,400 felonies filed against the 17 suspects.
Photo: Polk Co. Sheriff’s Office
Deputies say the child pornography included thousands of photos and videos depicting babies, toddlers, and children being forced to engage in sex acts.
Among the notable arrests were two Walt Disney World employees. Judd said a search warrant was executed in Davenport, Florida at a home shared by 32-year-old Justin Hazan and 36-year-old Arlandres Sims. Hazan reportedly told detectives he works at Hollywood Studios as an operator on the Millenium Falcon ride. He reportedly admitted to downloading and possessing child pornography. He was charged with 15 counts.
Hazan’s roommate, Sims, also works at Disney as a food runner at the Animal Kingdom Resort. He was also arrested and charged with 25 counts of child pornography.
“When we went to the house, we went after Arlandres Sims,” Judd said. “We also found out that his roommate from Disney, Justin Hazan, also was looking at child porn. [Detectives] didn’t know that. So during the investigation, our detectives found it kind of humorous. Arlandres actually said, ‘You’re doing it too?'”
Another Davenport man, a registered nurse at Osceola Regional Medical Center, was arrested and charged with five counts of child pornography. Judd said 38-year-old Edgardo Cancela was reported for suspicious actions on Facebook. Judd said Cancela lives at home with his wife and two children, ages 10 and 13.
Stephen Lilly, a 61-year-old Lakeland resident and former Tampa Electric employee, was charged with 100 counts of child pornography. Judd said Lilly told investigators he had only been viewing child pornography for the last two years.
“I don’t know if I believe that,” Judd said. “How do you wake up at 59 years old with a wife and two adult children and think, ‘Gosh, I think I’ll go to the room and start looking at child porn. Especially if you’re charged with 100 counts.”
Nabor Molina, a 45-year-old Lakeland resident, was found with child pornography of victims as young as 18-36 months old, Judd said. Additionally, Judd said detectives discovered Molina has been in the country illegally for the last 30 years.
Landen Ulrich, an 18-year-old Lakeland resident, was arrested after detectives found child pornography on his computer of victims as young as six months old, Judd said. Ulrich was charged with 200 counts of child pornography.
Jonathan Richards, 27, was charged with the most counts of child pornography — 300. Judd said Richards lives at home with his parents in Bartow.
Judd wrapped up the press conference highlighting the January arrest of Jose Ariza. Ariza was charged with distributing and attempting to purchase child pornography. Judd said Ariza also liked to purchase soiled underwear and ingest it.
“You know what all kinds of things get in soiled underwear, right?” Judd said. “Sometimes you think you’re passing gas and you’re not. You can’t trust a fart when you’re over 60. He was buying these things, and ingesting them. Did you hear me?”
Judd said Ariza is an IT specialist who has a masters degree from Florida International University.
Judd said none of the child victims were located in their investigation, but they’re not done seeking justice.
“We need to know where these babies are so we can rescue them,” he said. “So let us know.”
Go to WFLA for individual pictures with names.
Polk Co., Fla
Texas court upholds life sentence in assault case Defendant was convicted of selling young girl for sex
..
An appellate court in Texarkana affirmed Friday the sentence of life plus 80 years given a woman who sold a young relative who looked up to her into a life of prostitution.
by Lynn LaRowe TEXARKANA, Texas — An appellate court in Texarkana affirmed Friday the sentence of life plus 80 years given a woman who sold a young relative who looked up to her into a life of prostitution.
The terms were ordered to run consecutively by 202nd District Judge John Tidwell.
The 6th District Court of Appeals in Texarkana issued an opinion Friday affirming Griffin's sentences. The opinion notes that Griffin's appellate counsel filed a brief indicating that no grounds for appeal exist. The higher court's opinion states that after an "independent review" of the case and trial transcript, it too found nothing on which to base an appeal of Griffin's sentence.
Griffin came to the attention of authorities during a human trafficking investigation that led to a court-authorized search of a house in April 2018 on Meadow Lane in New Boston, Texas. Texas Department of Public Safety investigators were looking for evidence in a case involving the home's owner, John Littleton.
Littleton died before he could face trial on charges of child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Littleton's roommate, Charles Garton, 40, is currently serving a 160-year term for sexual abuse involving a 12-year-old. Another defendant, Kenneth Nelson, is serving five life sentences for human trafficking involving teen girls he traded cash and drugs for sex.
While searching Littleton's home, investigators discovered a videocassette tape labeled with a girl's name. The tape contained multiple recordings of Littleton sexually assaulting an underage girl whom investigators were able to identify and interview.
Officers were able to date one of the recordings because a news report, playing in the background, announced that Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce from Michael Jackson. That news was made public in January 1996, more than 23 years ago.
The woman, who was a 14-year-old girl when the recordings were made with Littleton, told investigators Littleton began molesting her when she was 11 after she was introduced to him by Griffin. Griffin is seen in some of the recordings and was operating the camera. At trial, Griffin's victim, now in her late 30s, testified she was 11 or 12 when her favorite relative gave her a bubble bath, dressed her provocatively and took her to a motel room in New Boston where Littleton was waiting.
The woman told investigators Griffin often drove her to local motels and other locations where Littleton would pay Griffin so he could have sex with the girl. The woman reported that she was often given alcohol and drugs before and during the encounters.
Griffin is currently being held in the Hobby Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Marlin, Texas.
Palatine, Ill, man charged with child pornography,
child sex abuse of 4 and 5 y/o girls
Barbara Vitello, Daily HeraldA Palatine man who authorities say used his cellphone to record the sexual abuse of a 4-year-old girl was ordered held without bail Friday. He's also charged in the abuse of a 5-year-old girl.
Assistant Cook County State's Attorney C.J. Orrantia referred to "other potential child victims in the same neighborhood" when he asked Cook County Judge Ellen Mandletort to hold Reyes without bail.
According to Orrantia, Reyes approached the 4-year-old, who was playing outside a relative's home on May 27. He asked the girl to accompany him to a stairway landing between the second and third floors of a building, then videotaped the sexual assault, Orrantia said.
The same day, the girl told her mother, who contacted police, Orrantia said.
On June 16, Reyes approached a 5-year-old girl and asked her to accompany him into a building, where he sexually abused her, according to Orrantia. Two witnesses saw Reyes in the area, including the mother of the 4-year-old girl, and notified police, Orrantia said.
Police, who arrested Reyes about 6:30 p.m. that day, subsequently recovered images of the abuse of the 4-year-old on the defendant's cellphone, Orrantia said.
Orrantia said Reyes, who has no criminal background, is not related to either of the girls and that he posed "a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons but in particular vulnerable young children."
Reyes next appears in court on July 29.
Amazing. Only 18 years old and he has completely destroyed his life.
Long Island man indicted on overseas sexual exploitation and child pornography charges
Defendant allegedly traveled from New York to the Philippines to engage in sexual activity with 13-y/o girl in exchange for money
GARDEN CITY, NY (OnSachem.com / OnTownMedia.com) — An indictment was filed today in federal court in Central Islip charging Thomas Blaha with traveling to the Philippines with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Blaha was arrested on a complaint in February 2020 and released on a $1 million bond. He will be arraigned at a later date.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), announced the charges.
“The defendant allegedly traveled halfway across the globe to sexually exploit a minor that he had enticed through Facebook and create child pornography,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting children from online predators by identifying such offenders and prosecuting them to the full extent of the law.”
“It is alleged Blaha made trips to the Philippines to sexually abuse a 13-year old female who was being exploited for money,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “Crimes involving the sexual exploitation of unwitting children are the most heinous and will not be tolerated, regardless of where the sexual acts occur. HSI is a global investigative agency, and with our resources and partnerships with the United States Attorney’s Office, we will stop at nothing to put an end to child victimization worldwide.”
According to court filings, in September and October 2019 Blaha traveled from New York to the Philippines to engage in sexual activity with a 13-year-old female and persuade her to take sexually explicit images of herself and send them to him in exchange for money. As a part of the government’s investigation, in December 2019, search warrants were obtained for Blaha’s Facebook account, as well as his residence in Garden City and his electronic devices. The searches revealed hundreds of images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The charges in the indictment are allegations only, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Blaha faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
This prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Anna L. Karamigios is in charge of the prosecution.
Rock Springs, Wyo, Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Dave Arambel, SweetwaternowGREEN RIVER — A 30-year-old Rock Springs woman could be facing 100 years in prison if found guilty on two counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
Kaila Marie Krotzer pleaded not guilty to four separate counts yesterday during her arraignment in the Third District Court of Judge Suzannah Robinson.
Krotzer has been charged with two counts of felony first-degree sexual abuse of a minor less than 16-years-old, one misdemeanor count of child abandonment, and one misdemeanor count of violating a temporary protection order.
According to court documents, the alleged felonies occurred separately on March 20 and March 22, 2020. The documents state that Krotzer was “occupying a position of authority” over the minor when the alleged abuse happened.
Each felony count carries a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison and $10,000 fine. The abandonment count charges Krotzer with knowingly endangering a child’s life by violating a duty of care on March 22 and is punishable by one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. The fourth count of violating a protection order carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $750 fine.
Bond Conditions
Krotzer’s attorney Joe Hampton argued for a bond reduction to $25,000 because he said she is not a flight risk, has family and close ties to the community. He said Krotzer is well established in the community, and he also submitted character reference letters to court and prosecuting attorney “so the court could see what type of person Mr. Krotzer is outside of the allegations,” Hampton said.
Hampton also said Krotzer is a mother and at her core a good person with a good heart. He said a $25,000 bond would satisfy that Krotzer would show up for her court appearances, and ensure safety for the community by following all court orders established in her bond.
He added that after Krotzer was interviewed by police she immediately went home and stayed there for a period of time without any involvement with the alleged victim. Hampton said she ignored Snapchat messages from the alleged victim, and when the victim messaged her that he was going to kill himself, she wrote back saying “I can’t talk to you right now.”
After that episode, Hampton said Krotzer immediately reported it to the detective investigating the case. It was at that point that the violation of the temporary restraining order was filed and Krotzer was arrested.
State’s Opinion
However, Deputy County Attorney Lora Cooper painted a different picture of Krotzer. Cooper said she is a danger to the community and a danger to other children with serious concerns about allowing her to even be around her own children.
Cooper said she abused her position of authority with the victim and even admitted to committing the offenses when interviewed by law enforcement. Cooper added that Krotzer admitted to taking the alleged victim to a bonfire when she was entrusted with his care by his legal guardian where “he got sloppy, falling down drunk.”
“To say she is not a danger to the community in my opinion is quite laughable,” Cooper added.
Cooper said Krotzer’s employment puts her in contact with other children, she’s been in contact with other members of the alleged victim’s family, and the violation of the protection order is more reflective of her conduct should she be able to pay a lesser bond and be released from jail.
Cooper said she doesn’t have a problem with the reference letters provided by Hampton but that its not unusual for predators to be good with children because that’s how they easily get to be around them.
“I imagine that the people who wrote these letter are not fully aware of the charges against her and the fact that she’s confessed,” Cooper said.
Judge Robinson said sexual abuse of a minor is considered a crime of violence and there’s significant evidence in the court affidavit that would warrant her to deny Hampton’s request for a reduced bond.
Krotzer’s jury trial has been set for November 2 at 9 a.m. She remains in the Sweetwater County Detention Facility on $100,000 bond.
Chesterfield Co., S.C. man charged with
sexual exploitation of minors
By WBTV Web StaffCHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. - A Chesterfield County man was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of minors, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced.
Timmy Earl McClain, a 39-year-old from Pageland, is facing nine charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors.
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Attorney General's Office made the arrest on Thursday.
Investigators with the United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, all also members of the state’s ICAC Task Force, as well as the Pageland Police Department, assisted with the investigation and arrest.
Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to McClain.
Investigators said that McClain possessed multiple files of child sexual abuse material.
McClain is charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third-degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.
Girl Scout troop leader faces additional sex abuse charges in Erie Co., NY
By: Megan ErbacherBUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Girl Scout troop co-leader was arraigned in Amherst Town Court on Friday morning, accused of sexually abusing two children.
Following the investigation in Amherst, Walton has been charged with one count of first-degree criminal sex act, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators say the abuse happened between March 27 and May 9 in Amherst.
It's unclear whether the two victims in the Amherst case and the Niagara County case are the same children or different children. Investigators have not said whether the children were members of Walton's Girl Scout troop.
Walton is being held without bail until his next court date, a felony hearing on July 10. If convicted of all charges, the maximum sentence is 25 years in prison.
Man arrested in Mesa, Az, after child porn found
on laptop in his car
Audrey Jensen, Arizona RepublicA man was arrested in Mesa on Wednesday as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation, officials said.
Bendet was arrested Wednesday after the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Cyber Crimes Unit received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that 49 files depicting the sexual abuse of children were uploaded to a Google Drive at a Fountain Hills address last July.
Detectives identified Bendet as the user based on the email address that uploaded the files but were unable to confirm his location.
Police tried to find him at his mother's home in Fountain Hills, but detectives determined that he no longer lives there and now lives in his vehicle, according to records.
Police located Bendet's vehicle at a strip mall in Mesa near Baseline and Dobson roads and took him into custody for further questioning. He told police he did not have a cell phone but police found a cell phone, iPad, SD card and laptop in his vehicle which were also taken for examination.
Bendet's bail is set to $25,000 and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 25.
FBI arrests SLC man accused of wanting to
sexually abuse infant
By Pat Reavy, KSLSALT LAKE CITY — A man who investigators say tried to arrange a meeting with another man for the purpose of sexually abusing his infant child was arrested in an undercover FBI operation.
Telmar Paul Lochridge, 31, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Friday for investigation of enticing a minor, criminal solicitation and sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to a police affidavit, Lochridge “was a member of a social media forum of individuals that have strong and persistent sexual attractions to toddlers and infants.”
On that forum, Lochridge contacted a 38-year-old man “who claimed to have access to an infant age boy,” the affidavit states. “During the communication, Lochridge discussed sexually abusing the infant.”
Lochridge arranged to meet the man on Friday, investigators say. When he arrived at the designated location, he was arrested by members of the FBI Child Exploitation task force.
“During an interview with the FBI, Lochridge admitted to meeting other people in the Salt Lake area with similar sexual interest in children,” according to the affidavit.
Foley, Ala, man sentenced to 30 years in prison
on federal Production of Child Porn charges
by Keith LaneMOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — 33-year-old Corey Steele of Foley, Alabama, was sentenced Monday in federal court on a charge of production of child pornography. Steele pled guilty to the charge in June of 2019.
During the course of their investigation, Foley Police were able to determine that Steele’s co-defendant, Krystal Sanspree, and Steele were involved in a romantic relationship. During the course of their relationship, Steele requested that Sanspree take sexually explicit photos of a child. Sanspree complied, and subsequently sent the images to Steele. Some of the images depicted Sanspree engaged in sex acts with a child.
When interviewed, Sanspree admitted to taking the photos. Steele admitted to requesting the photos and stated that he directed Sanspree to do the specific things portrayed in the photos. Both Steele and Sanspree were in possession of the images at the time of their arrest.
United States District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade imposed a sentence of 360 months imprisonment.
Krystal Sanspree was previously sentenced to twenty years in prison for her crimes.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's...
Lawsuit claims Westmoreland Co., Pa,
children’s bureau abused its power
Rich CholodofskyA lawsuit that claims a were harassed and threatened by child welfare caseworkers will be litigated in Westmoreland County.
Court documents filed Monday revealed the six-count lawsuit originally filed last year in Somerset County was transferred to Westmoreland, where allegations of conspiracy, negligence and abuse of power were raised against the county agency that conducted a child welfare investigation in response to criminal charges that were filed against the doctor.
The doctor, his wife and two children are only identified by initials in the lawsuit. The court filing does refer to a criminal trial conducted last July in which Ligonier was found not guilty of charges that he molested a teen girl.
According to the lawsuit, the doctor and his wife were subjected to repeated harassment by the county children’s bureau and placed the family in constant jeopardy of having the couple’s children removed from their custody during 2017. The lawsuit alleges a children’s supervisor and a caseworker initially removed two children from the home and placed them in foster care after the sexual assault allegations against the doctor were raised.
The lawsuit claims attempts to appeal children’s bureau decisions resulted in retaliations that included inappropriate oversight, such as a requirement that the mother never sleep so she can have continuous watch over her children. The court filing also claims the family was forced to live apart when the mother and children moved to Somerset County. The Somerset child welfare agency closed the case against the family in November 2017, according to the lawsuit.
The mother “remained in fear of retaliation and tried to avoid Westmoreland County. Even when a jury found … not guilty, … was fearful that WCCB would retaliate by taking her children away,” the lawsuit states.
A Somerset judge in April ruled the case should be litigated in Westmoreland County.
In the lawsuit, the family is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. In addition to money, the family is seeking the termination of the county’s policy to remove children from their parents without a hearing and other procedural safeguards.
So, the question is, does child welfare believe the doctor is hurting his children, even though they were unable to prove it in court? Or, are they just being vexatious? It is often a very difficult decision as to whether to remove children from a family, or to remove the husband, but child welfare workers must be very careful to not let their emotions control their decisions.
Westmorland Co., Pa
Wayne Co., NY, man accused of rape,
sexual abuse of child
Wayne PostBy Messenger Post Media
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said 24-year-old Mark Stedge Jr. was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sex abuse and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.
Deputies said the abuse includes sexual intercourse and other types of sexual contact with a nine-year-old over two years at Stedge’s residence on Maple Avenue in the village of Sodus.
Stedge was arraigned and taken to the Wayne County Jail without bail.
Fairhope man sentenced to 60 months for
child pornography offense
United States District Court Chief Judge Kristi DuBose imposed a sentence of 60 months imprisonment. The judge ordered that Mitchell serve a fifteen-year term of supervised release beginning upon his discharge from prison. Upon his release from prison, Mitchell will be required to undergo sex offender treatment and to register as a sex offender. Judge DuBose ordered that Mitchell pay $5100 in special assessments and $5000 in restitution. Mitchell will be prohibited from having any contact with minors that are not his own children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
The case was investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Kacey Chappelear.
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