Sheriff’s Office conducts arrest in child pornography case

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

||| FROM ERIC PETER, SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF |||

On 11-07-2023, a CyberTip case was assigned to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office by the Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Initial investigation by the Seattle PD ICAC Task Force revealed the suspect of the CyberTip resided in San Juan County. Detectives with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office continued the investigation, serving search warrants and found the suspect had left Washington State. Probable cause was established, and a $500,000 arrest warrant was issued by San Juan County Superior Court.

On 05-13-2024, the suspect was taken into custody in Connecticut on the following charges:

• Dealing in Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct in the First Degree, in violation of RCW 9.68A.050(1)(a)(i) and (b).
• Dealing in Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct in the Second Degree, in violation of RCW 9.68A.050(2)(a)(i) and (b).
• Possession of Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct in the First Degree, in violation of RCW 9.68A.070(1)(a) and (b).
• Possession of Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct in the Second Degree, in violation of RCW 9.68A.070(2)(a) and (b).

Subject was transported back to Washington State by the U.S. Marshal Service into the custody of the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.

The court set a $250,000 bail at the initial hearing on 7/24/24, & the suspect was transported to the Skagit County Jail for holding. Bond was posted for the defendant, and the defendant is currently out on bail pending trial.

This case was a collaborative investigation with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), and the Seattle Police Department ICAC Unit which is also the Lead Agency for the Washington Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (WA ICAC TF).