Calif. Child Therapist Accused of Secretly Recording Girls in Public Bathroom, Scouring Dark Web for Child Sex Abuse Material
Federal investigators allege Joseph Toews used a hidden camera to record at least eight prepubescent girls in a restroom and purchased child sexual abuse material through a Robinhood-linked Bitcoin account
A California therapist has been accused of secretly filming young girls in a restroom at a therapy office and purchasing child sexual abuse material online.
Joseph Toews was charged in a federal criminal complaint that lists production, receipt and possession of child pornography offenses, according to court documents filed in the Central District of California.
The FBI alleged in the complaint that Toews used Bitcoin transactions linked to his Robinhood account to purchase child sexual abuse material from darknet websites between May and September 2024.
According to the affidavit, investigators traced at least five alleged payments to sites with names including “Loliporn Directory” and “CP Videos Bonanza.” Agents said they later visited the sites and confirmed they contained child sexual abuse material.
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Toews’ Playa Vista home in December 2025, according to the complaint. Investigators said they seized digital devices that allegedly contained numerous files depicting child sexual abuse material.
The complaint further alleges that investigators found videos that appeared to have been produced by Toews himself.
According to the affidavit, agents recovered recordings allegedly showing at least eight prepubescent girls inside what appeared to be a public restroom at Toews’ place of employment at the time. Authorities alleged the camera had been hidden above a toilet.
Investigators also alleged they found a video showing Toews setting up the hidden camera. According to the complaint, his face was “clearly visible” in the footage.
Per the affidavit, agents found 12 hidden-camera recordings from November 2022 that appeared to show Toews conducting “play therapy” sessions with prepubescent girls. Investigators said they believed the recordings may have been tests of a concealed camera system later allegedly used in the restroom recordings.
Authorities additionally alleged they found secretly recorded videos of Toews’ wife inside their residence, including recordings made in a bedroom and restroom.
The complaint says investigators identified numerous additional child sexual abuse material files on Toews’ devices, including videos depicting the abuse of very young children, including toddlers. One filename referenced a 3-year-old child, according to the affidavit.
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How a Toledo arrest led the FBI to a Detroit hospital and a doctor with child pornography
The case spans multiple states and involves allegations of sexual abuse, exploitation, and disturbing text messages
DETROIT – A former Metro Detroit doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal child pornography charge stemming from a multi-state investigation into the sexual exploitation of children.
Lincoln Erickson, a former medical resident at a Detroit hospital, pleaded guilty May 20 to receipt of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 15, 2026, and will be required to register as a sex offender.
Arrest tied to broader investigation
Erickson, of Farmington Hills, was one of four men arrested in connection with a large child pornography and sexual abuse case that began with the arrest of Brett Tooman in Toledo, Ohio.
On March 29, 2025, Toledo police took Tooman into custody after he allegedly traveled to the area to sexually abuse a 7-year-old girl and a 6-month-old infant he believed existed.
Tooman’s arrest led investigators to Jeremy Brian Tacon, Joshua Ronnebaum and Erickson, who allegedly shared explicit and sexually abusive materials with one another.
---> Doctor, lawyer, therapist, and man in Toledo -- how they’re linked to pedophilia, child porn case
FBI arrests Erickson at Detroit hospital
The FBI arrested Erickson on Dec. 10, 2025, at a Detroit hospital where he was working as a medical resident, after authorities reportedly discovered a conversation on Ronnebaum’s phone linking him to the case.
After his arrest, Erickson allegedly admitted receiving what he believed was AI‑generated child pornography from a man in Chicago.
He was denied bond.
Erickson and Ronnebaum allegedly spoke about wanting to travel to Thailand and sexually abusing children together.
“Love being a pedo,” read one text message.
Erickson reportedly shared a fantasy about having a relationship with a man where they would raise a child together that they would abuse and groom “from baby to adulthood.”
“Start them young,” read one message.
The FBI said Erickson shared in messages that he knows a father who allegedly allows him to sexually abuse the man’s 3-year-old son.
A Telegram chat on his phone also showed him requesting more videos and writing, “Bro, I love other pedophiles. So hot.”
Court hearings
During a Dec. 16, 2025, court hearing, prosecutors presented evidence of Erickson’s interactions with the father of three minors, including phone sex and in-person meetings, as well as disturbing messages regarding the children.
Erickson, who reportedly has a history of domestic violence and threatening behavior, allegedly attempted to impregnate an adult woman, described by the defense as his best friend.
Salem, UT man accused of sexually abusing 6-year-old during family game night
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SALEM, Utah (ABC4) — A Salem man is behind bars after he was allegedly caught sexually abusing his 6-year-old relative during a family gathering.
Daniel Price Jairl, 32, is charged with 12 counts of object rape of a child, a first-degree felony, and 11 counts of sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.
According to court documents, the Salem Police Department was contacted about a sex offense against a child on the morning of May 16. The reporting party stated that she and her 6-year-old child were at a family game night when she walked in on her relative sexually abusing her child.
The mother stated that the family has a game night every Friday, and her child was in the living room while she was playing card games in the adjoining room. She went to check on the 6-year-old and discovered that Jairl was touching them inappropriately.
Salem Police responded to the residence and brought Jairl to the police department for questioning. He allegedly admitted to abusing the victim for at least one year.
Documents say Jairl admitted that he would sexually assault the 6-year-old child during the game nights when they were alone in the living room, and described the manner of the abuse to the police.
Jaril was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
Following his arrest, during an interview at the Children’s Justice Center, the victim disclosed to law enforcement that Jairl had used an adult toy on them on more than one occasion.
When Jairl was questioned about the adult toy, he allegedly stated that he had bought a new one to use on the child victim and had used another one on them before.
Dothan City Schools employee arrested for alleged child sex abuse, DCS releases statement
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — A Dothan City Schools employee has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a child, according to Dothan Police Department.
Johnny Mark Dunaway, 55, was arrested on May 20 as a result of a weeks-long police investigation.
Police say DPD was notified of reports of a school employee engaged in inappropriate activity with a student by the Houston County Department of Human Resources on May 6, 2026, which prompted police to investigate.
At this time, Dunaway had been placed on administrative leave by Dothan City Schools due to complaints of inappropriate behavior.
(Photo: Johnny Dunaway. Courtesy of Dothan Police Department.)
Police say it was determined that a report of inappropriate conduct with a student was made against Dunaway to Dothan City Schools in February and that the complaint was handled internally by the school system. Another similar report was made against Dunaway on April 28, 2026, which was also handled internally.
Dothan City Schools notified Houston County Department of Human Resources of the complaints on May 6, who notified Dothan Police.
Police say they a conducted forensic interview with a student who made allegations against Dunaway regarding sexual crimes.
Police executed a search warrant at Dunaway’s home on May 13 where police say they seized several items for investigation. Police also say they sent out several court orders for various social media and gaming platforms after the search.
Dunaway has been charged with seven counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes, one count of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, and one count of interference with custody.
Dunaway is being held in Houston County Jail without bond.
Dothan Police said in a press release that the department is devoted to investigating these crimes.
“The safety of our children is non-negotiable,” police said. “The Dothan Police Department will devote every available resource to investigating crimes against children, and anyone who exploits a position of trust to victimize a child should expect our full commitment to pursuing justice.”
Dothan City Schools released a statement Wednesday evening regarding Dunaway’s arrest, where officials said the safety of students is their highest priority.
Dunaway was hired by Dothan City Schools in July of 2021 under a different superintendent and school board chairman.
Utah elementary school employee charged with sex abuse of children, filming students
PANGUITCH — A Garfield County man who police say works at an elementary school and was arrested and accused of uploading child sex abuse material was charged Wednesday with 22 first-degree felonies.
Dallen Benjamin Platt, 20, of Henrieville, is charged in 6th District Court with three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, 18 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and sodomy on a child, all first-degree felonies.
The investigation began a week ago when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children task force that suspected child sex abuse material was being uploaded to an IP address in Utah. On Thursday, investigators served a search warrant at Platt's residence.
Platt admitted to sexually abusing two young children under the age of 5 and secretly recording two teens naked, according to charging documents. He claimed he would then send his videos to a 13-year-old girl in Texas. Platt allegedly told investigators he is in a "relationship" with the 13-year-old.
"Platt stated that he works at a local elementary school. He admitted to taking photos of children at the school and sending the photos to (the 13-year-old) to rate their attractiveness. He also admitted to using AI to manufacture nude images of the children," charging documents state. "Law enforcement is conducting additional investigation into these files."
Neither the charging documents nor the arrest report indicate which school Platt works at or what he does there. The crimes Platt was charged with on Wednesday happened at his residence and not the school, the charges say.
