Case Studies – Archives of the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
This page chronicles just a few of the many cases investigated by the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force from 2001-2008.
Trigger Warning: All of these cases are disturbing.
Updated Phraseology
In Arizona, the crime of unlawful contraband images involving minors falls under the statute for sexual exploitation of a minor. The phrase “child pornography” is not used in Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3553.
Under Federal Law in US Code, unlawful contraband images of minors are known as “child pornography”. The laws include the following: 18 U.S.C. § 2251; 18 U.S.C. § 2252; 18 U.S.C. § 2252A.
In recent years the phrase, “Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)” has replaced the term “child pornography”.
In this work, the acronym CSAM is used to indicate unlawful contraband images of child abuse and mostly replaces the words “child pornography”.
Arizona Offender Apprehension Project – December 2008
Background
During eight days in December 2008, Arizona ICAC undercover investigators found that in one narrow avenue of the Internet, 8,170 unlawful CSAM images were traced to various locations in Arizona involving 77 different cities throughout the state. Subsequently, local and federal agencies worked together towards making a dent in the burgeoning crisis.
In the three months between December 2008 and February 2009, a joint task force of Arizona and Federal investigators conducted a series of proactive cybercrime enforcement operations targeting Internet criminals committing sex crimes against children; including the trafficking of unlawful images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The project was followed by an education effort geared towards Internet crime prevention and awareness.
Participating Law Enforcement Agencies
Investigators affiliated with 11 law enforcement agencies partnered with the Arizona ICAC Task Force in a cooperative effort during this operation. Agencies participating included (alphabetically):
- Arizona Attorney General’s Office (education and training)
- Chandler PD – (investigation and enforcement)
- F.B.I. – (investigation and enforcement)
- Gilbert PD – (investigation and enforcement)
- I.C.E. – (investigation and enforcement)
- Maricopa County Attorney’s Office – (prosecution)
- Mesa PD – (investigation and enforcement)
- Phoenix PD – (investigation and enforcement)
- Scottsdale PD – (investigation and enforcement)
- Tempe PD – (investigation and enforcement)
- U. S. Postal Inspection Service – (investigations)
The Investigators’ Work
Investigators endured witnessing disturbing cyber images and videos depicting brutal sexual torture of actual children. They use sophisticated computer investigative techniques combined with undercover tactics to identify offenders. They conducted surveillance operations, requested subpoenas, and wrote and executed dozens of search warrants. They seized thousands of items of computer evidence. Detectives and special agents conducted computer forensics examinations to identify contraband images. They interrogated offenders and interviewed witnesses. They conducted exhaustive searches of dwellings and wrote
voluminous reports on their activities.
The Suspects
All of the following suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law:
These suspects were arrested and charged with violating Arizona State laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors (unlawful CSAM images)
- Donald Morici, age 79, from Gilbert Arizona – retired appliance repairman
- Richard Leathers, age 49, from Phoenix Arizona – an embalmer/mortician
- Ronald Good, age 39, from Tempe Arizona – a computer IT specialist
- Sean Johnson, age 21, from Tempe Arizona – a college student
- Christopher Youngs, age 59, from Quatar – a surveyor
- Michael Carter, age 40, from Peoria Arizona – a plumber
- Julio Ayala, age 21, from Scottsdale Arizona – a student
- Robert Moran, age 53, from Scottsdale Arizona – a handyman
- Two unnamed juveniles, both age 16 from Mesa and Tempe
Project Wrap-UP
The project revealed the alarming prevalence of child sexual exploitation material being shared online within the state. In response, local and federal law enforcement agencies collaborated to address this growing crisis through proactive enforcement operations. This joint task force targeted internet criminals engaged in the trafficking of child sexual abuse material.
The investigative efforts were followed by an educational campaign aimed at preventing internet crimes against children and raising public awareness. This multi-pronged approach, combining law enforcement action and community outreach, demonstrated a comprehensive strategy to combat the exploitation of minors.
The scale of the problem uncovered and the coordinated response by authorities highlights the critical need for continued vigilance and collaboration to protect vulnerable children from predatory online activity. This project serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent work required to address the growing threat of internet-facilitated child sexual exploitation.
Selected Case Studies: 2001-2009
Ronald Sirull
17 year sentence for Ronald Sirull, owner of Brutus the Skydiving Dog: Police still seek to learn the identities of his victims
- Phoenix, Arizona, March 25, 2008
- Sentenced: Ronald Bruce Sirull, age 50
- Maricopa County Superior Court: 17 years prison, lifetime probation, lifetime sex offender
- Agencies: Phoenix Police Department / Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, FBI, ICE, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
In August 2007, after a two-month undercover investigation, Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force detectives arrested Ronald Bruce Sirull, a 50 year old packaging employee at a Phoenix Fed/Ex Kinkos for sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM ), sexual conduct with a minor and possession of marijuana.
During the investigation Sirull arranged for and completed a “dead drop” of unlawful images in exchange for money with an undercover investigator of the Arizona ICAC Task Force.
Pursuant to legal process and with the assistance of the Internet service provider, QWest, investigators were able to gather important information that furthered the investigation.
Sirull was later found to possess videos depicting himself engaged in sex acts with unidentified persons believed to be minors. The true identities of the persons depicted in the images are still unknown.
Sirull was arrested at his workplace, a FedEx Kinkos in Phoenix. He offered no resistance to the arrest. Search warrants were served at the business and also at Sirull’s nearby home. Items of evidence were seized from both locations. Special agents from the FBI and ICE assisted in the search. Sirull’s vehicle was also seized for forfeiture because he used it to facilitate the offense.
Sirull has worked as a private investigator and possesses a concealed weapons permit. He has lived in Arizona and Florida and has traveled throughout the US. He gained notoriety several years ago as the owner of Brutus the Skydiving Dog. Sirull made numerous skydiving jumps accompanied by his pet daschund which he strapped to his stomach during the dives. Sirull and his dog possess a Guiness world record as the highest skydiving dog. He made promotional public appearances, accompanied by his dog, at skydiving events and air shows.
The investigation was submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for prosecution. On March 25, 2008, Sirull plead guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to charges related to the unlawful images. He was sentenced to 17 years prison, lifetime probation and lifetime sex offender status.
Calvin Craig Besent
Offender sentenced – Holbrook PD, Navajo County SO, AZ Department of Public Safety & Navajo County Attorney
On May 25, 2007 Calvin Craig Besent, age 44, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and lifetime probation after pleading guilty to state charges of furnishing harmful items to a minor and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM ). Bessent is unmarried and unemployed. He was living with his mother at the time of his arrest.
The investigation was handled by the Holbrook Police Department and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators learned that on March 9, 2006 Bessent began an online relationship with a 15-year-old victim. During their communications Bessent had sent numerous pornographic images to the victim.
A search warrant was served on Bessent’s residence and evidence was seized. Bessent made admissions to the offenses and was arrested. An Arizona Department of Public Safety forensic examiner reviewed the computer and found an unlawful image depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.
This investigation was found to be linked to another ongoing case when it was leaned that the victim had also been communicating with another suspect. The case against the second suspect is pending.
The Navajo County Attorney’s Office handled the prosecution.
Tommy Vetter
Businessman Who Showed Unlawful Images To 16-Year-Old Employee Gets 10 Years Prison
- Phoenix, Arizona – Maricopa County Superior Court
- Offender: Tommy Jacob Vetter, age 49. Owner of Vetter Packing and Moving
- Charges: Two counts sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM )
- Sentence: Ten years prison followed by 99 years probation and sex offender registration
- Agencies: Arizona ICAC Task Force, FBI, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO)
On October 17, 2004 a 16-year-old employee of Vetter Packing and Moving reported that her boss, 49 year old Tommy Vetter, had shown her images of cCSAM on a computer at their Phoenix workplace. Investigators from the Phoenix ICAC Task Force and FBI diligently worked on the case.
A search warrant was served at the business and computers were seized. Detectives interviewed Vetter, a divorced father of two. An investigator from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office conducted a forensics examination of Vetter’s computer and found numerous unlawful images. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office represented the state and Vetter was indicted by a grand jury in March, 2006.
On April 18, 2007 Vetter plead guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM). He was sentenced to ten years prison followed by 99 years probation and registration as a sex offender.
Taurean Allmon
Ten Year Sentence for Phoenix Public Library CSAM Seller
On December 22, 2005, the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (AZ ICAC) Task Force received the first in a series of seven reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding CSAM that was being trafficked through Google. Technicians at Google had discovered disturbing images of CSAM on their computer servers and reported the images to NCMEC in accordance with federal law.
An unknown offender had posted unlawful images to five different groups within Google. The groups had the following titles:
- Pedophilia-Pics
- Hardcore
- Preteen photos
- Preteen-bestiality-and-anything-taboo2
- Homemade_vid_pthc, (note: among pedophiles, pthc means pre-teen hardcore)
Researchers at NCMEC conducted a preliminary investigation and learned that the computers facilitating the trafficking belonged to the City of Phoenix and that the offender used the email address, ”[email protected]” and the screen name, “Billy Corgan”.
Investigators quickly suspected that the screen name Billy Corgan was an alias after learning that the real Billy Corgan is a prominent musician.
An Intenet Yahoo profile posted on-line for “ugofif” indicated that his listed interests included:
- Preschool
- Strangers with Candy
- Kinki Kids
- PT Cruiser (note: among pedophiles, PT stands for “pre-teen”)
- Kinder-und Jugendhilfe
- Babyz
- All in the Family
AZ ICAC investigators learned that the computers used by “ugofif” were part of the vast Phoenix library system including 13 branch libraries located throughout the 516 square-mile city.
Computer experts know that computers connected to the Internet can be identified by an Internet protocol (IP) number, also known as an IP address. An IP address is similar to a telephone number in that the number can be traced through subpoena to a particular location or vicinity.
Investigators learned that the IP numbers associated with “ugofif” were shared between every public-access computer throughout the entire citywide library network and investigators initially could not identify which single library computer was the one used by “ugofif”.
Working in an undercover capacity on the Internet, an investigator contacted “ugofif” and developed information that he was trafficking CSAM for sale. He used a monetary brokerage service that is designed to protect the anonymity of buyers and sellers.
Investigators leaned that “ugofif” had used Phoenix public library computers on hundreds of occasions. Because the library does not log nor retain basic user information, the investigation would have stalled except for one unusual IP address that appeared in the long listings of hundreds of identical library addresses. The unusual IP address did not match the IP addresses associated with the library.
Investigators researched the unusual IP address. They found that it was associated with a computer e-mail kiosk at a convenience store in Phoenix. The store was not far from the main downtown public library. The convenience store has a small podium-like stand with a computer attached that permits users to insert money and then log-in and check email. Fortunately for investigators, the store also maintains a video tape recording system that preserves images of customers. Investigators retrieved video tapes from the store that depicted a person using the computer at the same date and time that the IP records had indicated “ugofif” had been there.
The convenience store video showed images of an unidentified person – probably “ugofif”, but investigators still did not know his true identity. Using the images, investigators then began covert surveillance at the downtown branch of the library, looking for the person in the picture. The library has dozens of computers located on three different floors of the building.
On December 30, 2005, a person resembling the man depicted on the store video was observed using a library computer at the downtown library. Covert surveillance was conducted for two hours as the man moved about and used seven different library computers. Initial surveillance could not confirm that the person was in fact “ugofif”. The library did not require users to provide any proof of identity in order to use the computers and investigators later learned that the computers have software set to eliminate evidence shortly after a patron departs.
When the man left the library, investigators followed afoot. A few blocks from the library he was detained temporarily under a pretext and he presented identification with the name Taurean Allmon. Allmon said that he was transient and living at the nearby homeless shelter.
A search warrant was prepared for the purpose of seizing the seven library computers that had been used by Allmon. The purpose of the seizure was to attempt to determine with certainty whether or not Allmon was “ugofif” – also know as “Billy Corgan”. On January 5, 2006, the search warrant was ready. Detectives planned to wait for Allmon to use a computer at the library, detain him, and then seize the computers listed in the warrant. Detectives watched for two days but Allmon did not return to the library. Finally, on January 6, the warrant was served and ten computers were seized. Allmon’s whereabouts were unknown.
Undercover on-line investigators continued working the case and learned that Allmon had traveled to California for a temporary laborer job. While in California, Allmon had used various library and motel computers while continuing to traffic CSAM . Investigators learned that Allmon said that he would return to Phoenix sometime in February.
On February 9, 2006 Allmon was spotted in Phoenix by an alert AZ ICAC investigator who saw him walking on the street near the Phoenix public library. AZ ICAC investigators converged, and Allmon was taken into custody without incident as he sat at a library computer. The computer he was using still displayed the Yahoo screen name “ugofif” when he was arrested. Allmon had removable media storage devices in his possession that were seized by detectives. He made admissions to crimes amounting to the possession of CSAM , and possession with intent to sell CSAM .
Computer forensic analysis of the computer storage media seized from Allmon revealed numerous disturbing images of CSAM involving children as young as five years old.
The computer forensic analysis of 17 computers seized from the library proved unproductive because the computers contain special software that quickly eliminates or over-writes evidence that might have helped investigators.
After his February 9, 2006 arrest, the 21 year old Allmon remained in custody with a $198,000 bond. Criminal charges were filed through the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
On March 9, 2007 Allmon pled guilty to one felony count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one felony count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. Allmon will serve ten years in prison followed by lifetime probation and registration as a sex offender. Arizona Department of Corrections inmate number 15147
Anthony Russell Allen
Deferred jail term for an Arizona Internet sexual predator
Phoenix, Arizona – September 11, 2006
On January 13, 2006, Anthony Russell Allen, an unmarried 32 year old armored car driver from Chandler, Arizona was arrested by members of the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation. The arrest occurred in Phoenix.
Allen came to the attention of law enforcement when he used the Internet with the intention of meeting a minor for sex. During Internet chat conversations, while using the screen name: “BoredChandlerGuy” he groomed his intended victim and made sexually explicit statements including (expletives deleted):
- “Have you ever met people off of this?”
- “Want to?”
- “Would have to be a mall though i think in case u dont like me”
- “What you want?
- “How much clothes you need?”
- “Was just asking cause other people have asked me that too LOL”
- “But they said they would return the favor somehow”
- “I think they meant sex wise”
- “So you have a bf?”
- “Heck I would knock down the door if you like older guys”
- “Yeah sex would be nice wont lie there”
- “Ok sorry getting into sex topic what you want to talk about?”
- “So sometimes my mind drifts to sex talk”
- “Yeah but nowdays girls having sex at 12”
- “I see. Have u ever seen a guy naked?”
- “So you never touched a (expletive) or anything?”
- “Wow then you want me to come over and teach you things heh”
- “But then again if u wanted to learn”
- “As long as your not a cop or the tv crew that setting me up”
- “A little nervous since you are only (age redacted) and underage”
- “Can get in a lot of trouble”
- “I wouldnt tell anyone if you wont”
- “So going to show you my (expletive) if you want to see it”
- “Think you might be tight for me though”
- “If u wanted to have sex”
- “Your not some crazy cop or reporter are ya?”
- “Where would you want to meet and when?”
- “Ok could bring you back to my place if ok”
- “We could come back have some fun take you home?”
- “Maybe try some sexual things if you like me”
- “Do you have big (expletive)?”
- “I wont (expletive) in you”
- “Want to try?”
- “Like sucking on a lolli pop from what I hear”
- “Well normal is you on bottom and me on top but can do you on top me on bottom or you bent
- over on bed (Doggystyle)
- “U will be there at 430”
- “K see you then”
After the chat conversations, intent upon meeting a minor for sex, Allen drove from Chandler to Phoenix for the planned meeting. The armored car driver arrived in his personal vehicle, a sedan and was taken into custody. He confessed to the crime.
Allen was booked into the Maricopa County jail and the case was handled by the County Attorneys Office. Allen served served 3 days in jail and pled guilty to one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
On September 11, 2006 he was sentenced by Judge Bethany G. Hicks of Maricopa County Superior Court. Sentencing included:
- Counseling
- Lifetime probation
- Sex offender registration
- 12 months jail with credit for 3 days served. This is a deferred jail term. (This means that
the offender will only go to jail if he violates his probation terms). - Screening for work furlough. (This means that even if the offender is jailed he may enter
a program to work a job somewhere in the community during the day and spend his
evenings in jail)
Superior Court of Arizona – Maricopa County
Read the sentencing of Judge Hicks at http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/scripts/meeds/qreturn.asp — enter the case number CR2006102635
Dr. Steven William Henderson
Phoenix Neuropsychologist Sentenced to 17 Years
On November 3, 2005, Arizona ICAC investigators received disturbing information from a corporate attorney for a local healthcare organization. The attorney said that an alert Information Technology (IT) Specialist employed by the organization had observed unusual Internet traffic originating from an employee’s computer. A computer logged in under an employee’s name was trafficking sexually explicit chat conversations, apparently with minors, and the computer user was attempting to arrange meetings for sex with the minors.
Using the screen name “tripledigitheat” the computer user was discussing sex acts already completed with one unidentified minor. The IT specialist tracked the origin of the Internet traffic to someone logged it under the employee user name, “sthenderson”. Investigators were informed that “sthenderson” was the name assigned to an account registered to Dr. Steven Henderson, a neuropsychologist employed by the healthcare organization.
An intense week-long proactive investigation ensued. AZ ICAC investigators along with the Maricopa County (Arizona) Attorney’s Office authored and sent subpoenas for the purpose of identifying those involved in the alleged offenses. Henderson was placed under covert surveillance.
On November 11, 2005, “tripledigitheat”, (later verified as Henderson) engaged in sexually explicit Internet chat conversation with the intent to meet a minor for sex. His chats included the following excerpted statements:
- “So are you maybe interested some in guys and girls or..?”
- “Do you have a myspace or something”
- “So have you ever thought about meeting someone from online?”
- “I supposed to meet up with a friend today, but he’s not on now”
- “Have a little fun…LOL.. like (expletive) off together”
- “So are you at home now?”
- “Hey…if I’m free for the next hour, we could meet now LOL…”
- “I have met a guy b4 yes”
- “Ive met guys and we’ve (expletive) off together”
- “Yea, if we went back to ur apt, yes”
- “Not to hurt you or something or rob you…never never never”
- “So u wanna meet then”
- “I can be there in 5 minutes”
- “I’m excited to meet ya”
On November 11, 2005, at 1430 hours Henderson left his office at 350 W. Thomas in Phoenix and drove to a convenience store with the intent to meet a minor for sex. He was met instead by detectives and taken into custody. Immediately aware of his predicament, but selfishly oblivious to the suffering of others Henderson lamented, “No, no, no, don’t do this! Don’t do this! You don’t understand, you’re ending my life!” “My life is over!”
Henderson invoked his Fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination. His workplace computer was seized pursuant to a search warrant.
Investigators identified the minor victim (name withheld) who provided statements incriminating Henderson. Physical trace evidence was recovered from the victim’s home. The evidence matched Henderson and corroborated the victim’s story.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office handled plea negotiations. On July 3, 2006, Henderson plead guilty before Judge Andrew G. Klein of the Maricopa County Superior Court to one felony count of sexual conduct with a minor and dangerous crime against children in the first degree. He also plead guilty to three counts of felony attempted sexual conduct with a minor and dangerous crimes against children in the second degree.
On August 25, 2006, Dr. Steven William Henderson, age 41, was sentenced to 17 years prison, lifetime probation, and sex offender registration. Arizona State Prisoner number 209070.
Francisco P. Santiago-Estrada
Luring & Enticement
- Phoenix, Arizona – May 25, 2006
- Offender: Francisco P. Santiago-Estrada
- a.k.a’s. Francisco Estrada, Nathan, Frank, Master
- Screen name: dark_true_lord
On January 27, 2006, Francisco Santiago-Estrada, a 24 year old unemployed married man, was arrested by members of the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation. The arrest occurred in Phoenix.
Santiago-Estrada came to the attention of law enforcement when he used the Internet with the intention of meeting a minor for sex. On his profile page, Santiago-Estrada had listed his true name as “master”. He listed his favorite quote as: “You wouldn’t know it to look at me, but I have a soul darker than the deepest pits of hell.”
During Internet chat conversations, while using the screen name: “dark_true_lord” he made sexually explicit statements including (expletives deleted):
- “Looking to have some fun?”
- “I mean u, me and a bed”
- “You wanna play yet?”
- “Like some hot wild sex”
- “Cuz I love to teach”
- “We could make out and if you were willing I would lay you down undress you and (expletive) on you for about an hour.”
- “Then I would make love to you as gentle and as long as you like”
After the chat conversations, intent upon meeting a minor for sex, Santiago-Estrada drove from Gilbert, Arizona to Phoenix for the planned meeting. The former marine arrived to meet the minor dressed in a black t-shirt with the words “Department of Homeland Security” printed on the front.
He was arrested and confessed to the crime. His unsuspecting wife was surprised by the officers who later appeared at his Gilbert, Arizona residence to serve a search warrant.
Santiago-Estrada was booked into jail and the case was handled by the Maricopa County Attorneys Office.
Santiago-Estrada served 116 days in jail before pleading guilty to one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation. On May 25, 2006 he was sentenced by Judge Warren J. Granville to a suspended sentence and probation. He will serve lifetime probation but is not required to register as a sex offender. He will serve the remainder of the one-year sentence on a work-furlough program. The court ordered that he is not to operate a computer for personal use. Superior Court of Arizona – Maricopa County – case number: CR2006-104902.
Jerry Dean Huff
Luring & Enticement
Phoenix, Arizona – February 27, 2006
Offender: Jerry Dean Huff, a.k.a. “HollywoodASU992000” age 35. Occupation: Engineer
On April 12, 2005, Jerry D. Huff, a 35 year-old married engineer for a major computer chip manufacturer, was arrested and charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation. The arrest occurred in the parking lot of a business in west Phoenix. Huff came to the attention of law enforcement in April 2005, when he used the Internet to solicit sex acts with a minor. During Internet chat conversations, Huff arranged the illicit tryst.
While using the screen name: “HollywoodASU992000” he made sexually explicit statements including (expletives deleted):
- “You like to talk dirty?”
- “You like older guys?”
- “Do you have boobs yet?”
- “Do you like to touch them?”
- “Do you like talking sexy?”
- “I’d like you to take your hand and put it between my legs and feel (expletive).”
- “My (expletive) is hard now.”
- “Im not talking about cyber, Im talking about getting together for real.”
- “Would you like to (expletive) me off today?”
- “Would you let me lick your (expletive)?”
- “Do you know what a (expletive) is?”
- “Where should I meet you?”
- “You’re not going to get me in trouble are you?”
- “You know we shouldnt do this right?”
- “It’ll be our secret?”
- “Because I could get in a lot of trouble for this.”
- “See you in an hour — gotta go finish getting ready.”
Huff drove his Mitsubishi Diamante 27 miles from Mesa to west Phoenix, intent upon meeting a minor for sex. Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force members arrested him without incident and he made admissions about the crime. A search warrant was served at his residence and evidence was seized.
On February 27, 2006, Huff waived his right to trial and plead guilty before Judge Andrew G. Klein of the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona. Judge Klein sentenced Huff to 8 years probation and six months jail – on work furlough.
Huff may be required to register as a sex offender and be restricted from using computers in his home without the prior written permission of his probation officer.
Morris Lynn Miller
CSAM Possessor
- Sentenced: Morris Lynn Miller Jr., age 47
- Occupation: Hospital maintenance worker – Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix
- Arrested on 10/19/05 at 2501 E. Van Buren, Phoenix AZ
- Offense: Sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM )
- Agencies: Arizona ICAC – Phoenix PD, Phoenix FBI, Suffolk County NY ICAC
- Agencies: Suffolk County NY ICAC, NY FBI, AZ ICAC, Phoenix PD, AZ FBI, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
After receiving information of a CSAM possessor from investigators of the Suffolk County NY ICAC and NY FBI, investigators of the AZ ICAC prepared a search warrant for an apartment at 2501 E. Van Buren in Phoenix.
On Wednesday, October 19, 2005 detectives and special agents of the AZ ICAC, and Phoenix FBI served a search warrant at 2501 E. Van Buren in Phoenix. Over one thousand items of evidence were recovered, mostly printed images of CSAM .
The apartment resident, Morris Lynn Miller, an unmarried 47 year old hospital maintenance worker, was arrested. Miller made admissions about the CSAM offenses. He made no admissions regarding contact hands-on offenses involving CSAM but he did admit to frequenting young male prostitutes in the area who he said may have been underage.
Miller lived in a motel-style apartment that prohibited personal computers but he obtained CSAM via Web TV and then printed out the images on a personally owned color printer.
He was booked into the Maricopa County jail for ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (unlawful CSAM images). The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office handled the States plea offer. (CR20051341654)
On February 17, 2006 Miller plead guilty to one count attempt sexual exploitation of a minor and one count sexual exploitation of a minor. Judge Blakey of the Maricopa County Superior Court sentenced Miller to 19 years prison.
James Owen McCall
Arizona CSAM Suspect Skips Last Day of Trial – Later Apprehended in New Mexico
October 14, 2005
A Mesa man accused of possessing CSAM was convicted in absentia by a Maricopa County Superior Court jury in, Arizona.
James Owen McCall, age 52, possessed and trafficked CSAM using the screen names “tung2pleeze”, “nevada_bud14”, and “tamara_luvs”. He told his attorney that he would be absent from the last day of trial for medical reasons and never returned to court Thursday. The trial continued in McCall’s absence and the jury found him guilty of five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM). Judge Ronald Steinle ordered that a warrant for McCalls arrest be issued.
The case began in November 2003, when the Internet service provider Yahoo began reporting that they had found CSAM related to screen names and groups that were later traced to McCall.
Between November 2003 and April 2004, 13 incidents involving hundreds of images were reported. Yahoo forwarded the information to analysts at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who investigated and traced the origin to Arizona. The information was sent to the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task force where the investigations continued.
Detectives at the Arizona ICAC investigated further and served a search warrant at McCall’s Mesa home in February 2004. McCall made admissions regarding the offenses and was arrested.
His computer was seized and analyzed by a forensic computer examiner at the Maricopa County Prosecutors Office. Hundreds of images were found. McCall was released on bond and refused to accept plea bargain offers. He opted instead for trial, a risky maneuver in Arizona where the mandatory minimum sentence for a single image of CSAM is ten years prison.
The trial began on Tuesday, October 12, 2005. The Maricopa County Attorney’s office prosecuted the case, Judge Steinle presided. During the trial jurors saw disturbing images of children being sexually exploited and heard testimony from detectives and the computer forensic examiner.
On day three of the trial, with the prospects for a verdict in his favor dimming, McCall told his attorney that he could not be in court because he was having medical problems and needed to visit his doctor. He then fled and was apprehended a week later in New Mexico.
Vernon Monk
Missing Milwaukee Boy Found with Phoenix Sex Offender
From The Arizona Republic, Article By William Hermann, August 23, 2005
Phoenix police say the experience of the 13-year-old Milwaukee boy they found Monday night in the company of a man they suspect of using the Internet to lure the child to town is one that parents need to take to heart.
“There are dangerous people out there cruising the Internet looking for kids,” said Phoenix Police Sgt. Frank Kardasz. “Parents need to pay close attention to who their children are communicating with when they’re on their computer.”
Kardasz directs Phoenix’s part of the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes investigators from 26 municipal, county and federal agencies. The task force has investigated more than 1,700 cases since 2000 and made more than 200 arrests, Kardasz said. Kardasz said Milwaukee police on Aug. 17 had received a missing persons report from the boy’s mother.
Investigators went into her son’s computer and found that he had been communicating
regularly with a person using a Phoenix wireless Internet site. “We went to the address of the wireless user and pretty quickly found he was an innocent person whose wireless service was being used by someone else,” Kardasz said. “Through investigative work my staff established who was using the wireless connection, we watched his house, and soon the man drove up with the boy in his car.” At about 11:30 p.m police arrested Vernon Monk, 31.
“The suspect had no ID and was using a false name and a fictitious license plate and pretending to be the boy’s father to people in the neighborhood,” Kardasz said. Monk was arrested for custodial interference and booked into a Maricopa County Jail.
Police also learned that there is an outstanding arrest warrant on Monk from Seminole County, Okla., for a sexual offense against a minor. The boy was taken to the county’s Juvenile Court Center to stay until his mother could arrange for his return home.
Police say parents need to learn about the ways they can protect their children from Internet predators. They cite a 2000 study by the Justice Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that found that one in every five young people ages 10 to 17 surveyed said they’d received a sexual solicitation over the Internet in the previous year. Most of those solicitations take place in chat rooms.
“Predators use chat rooms as their main method of meeting and then grooming children,” Kardasz said. “The grooming includes sympathizing with adolescent problems, offering psychological support, being enthusiastic about their interests, and then trying to set up a meeting.”
John Sheehan manages the CyberTipline for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). He says the line has received about 12,000 reports of child exploitation in the past six years. “The predators like to go to a chat room and look at a child’s profile,” Shehan said. “Parents need to look at the profiles their children are leaving and make sure there is no personal information. No phone number, name of school, city they live in, athletic team, nothing that can be used to track them. “Most of all, parents need to establish guidelines with their son or daughter for computer use. And if parents suspect something is wrong, that someone has established contact that isn’t right, they need to take action.”
The NCMEC CyberTipline is, in fact, the first number for parents to call if they believe their child is being communicated with by a predator, Shehan said. NCMEC investigators will try to determine the city the suspect is working from and then contact the appropriate authorities, he said. The number is 800-843-5678.
Jerry D. Gibbs
Internet Sexual Predator & CSAM Possessor/Trafficker
- July 15, 2005
- Offender: Jerry D. Gibbs, age 31, unmarried, no children
- Occupation: unemployed software engineer
- Sentencing location: Maricopa County Superior Court (Arizona)
On August 5, 2004, an Arizona ICAC Task Force investigation led to Jerry D. Gibbs, a 31 year old unemployed software engineer from Scottsdale Arizona. Gibbs was identified as the suspect in an Internet investigation for luring a minor for sexual exploitation. Further investigation revealed that Gibbs also used the Internet to traffic CSAM from a computer in his apartment.
Arizona ICAC Task Force members from agencies including Phoenix P.D., Scottsdale P.D., and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service served a search warrant at Gibbs’ residence. Gibbs was taken into custody and evidence was seized. Computer analysis equipment from the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Computer Forensics Lab was used to locate unlawful images on a computer at the residence. Gibbs made admissions regarding the offenses.
On July 15, 2005 Gibbs plead guilty in Maricopa County (AZ) Superior Court to one charge of attempt sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM), and guilty to one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation for his acts of Internet enticement. Judge Wilkinson of the Maricopa County Superior Court sentenced Gibbs to ten years prison, lifetime probation and registration as a sex offender.
David Neil Calvert
Luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
Offender: David Neil Calvert, age 52. Occupation: Paralegal
On January 13, 2005, David Neil Calvert, a 52 year old unemployed paralegal, was arrested and charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation. The arrest occurred in the parking lot of a business in west Phoenix. Calvert came to the attention of law enforcement in early December 2004, when he used the Internet to solicit sex acts with a minor. During a series of Internet chats, Calvert arranged the illicit tryst. While using the screen name: “docctormsn” he made sexually explicit statements including (expletives deleted):
- “Your looking for some fun with older maybe?”
- “Something tells me you are a fun girl who likes (expletive)
- “Have you touched a guys (expletive) yet?
Calvert then used an Internet connected web camera attached to his personal home computer to expose his genitals and masturbate. He made many other sexually explicit statements including:
- “Do you like my (expletive)?
- “Are you touching yourself?”
- “Do you like watching me play with it?
- “You should let me teach you some tricks to make (expletive) more enjoyable for you…a girl needs to (expletive) regularly you know?”
- “Oh yeah would you like me to eat your (expletive)?”
On January 13, 2005 Calvert drove his BMW eighteen miles from Tempe to west Phoenix, intent upon meeting a minor for sex. Task Force members arrested him without incident and he made unremorseful admissions about the crime. A search warrant was served at his residence and evidence was seized. A records check indicated that Calvert had a prior (1985) arrest for indecent exposure.
On June 16, 2005 Calvert waived his right to trial and plead guilty before Judge Brian A. Hauser of the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona. Judge Hauser sentenced Calvert to nine months in jail, followed by lifetime supervised release, and sex offender registration.
Marc Finch
CSAM
Offender: Marc Finch, w/m, age 49. Occupation-Security Guard
In July 2003, a security guard and co-worker of 49 year old Marc Finch reported that Finch was observed viewing images of CSAM on a workplace computer. Detectives of the Arizona ICAC investigated and subsequently arrested Finch for the offense.
Investigators learned that Finch’s fascination with children did not end with images. Finch, a lifetime bachelor, hoped to adopt a school-aged boy and had obtained adoption forms from a government agency towards that end.
A plea bargain was struck, and on July 08, 2004, Finch pleaded guilty to one count of attempt sexual exploitation of a minor for the CSAM. He was sentenced to one year in jail and lifetime probation.
During Finch’s one year incarceration for the first offense, the National Center for missing and Exploited Children forwarded a complaint to the Arizona ICAC stating that an unknown Yahoo member using the screen name, “lilboy4fun2003” had distributed images of CSAM via the Internet. The investigation of the Yahoo report led to back to Finch. Further investigation proved that Finch distributed the contraband images via the Internet prior to his incarceration.
Upon his release from the original offense, on September 17, 2004, Finch attended his first probation meeting and was promptly re-arrested and charged with six of the many images he had trafficked via Yahoo.
Another plea bargain was struck, and on April 12, 2005, Finch pleaded guilty to two counts of attempt sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM). Judge Trujillo sentenced Finch to 5 years prison, followed by lifetime probation and sex offender registration.
David Lance Parent
Child Molester / CSAM Producer and Image Trafficker
February 03, 2005
Between January and June 2004, Detectives of the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)Task Force conducted an investigation into a CSAM trafficker. The investigation stemmed from a series of complaints generated by the Internet Service Provider Yahoo and subsequently sent to the Arizona ICAC by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Detectives learned that the suspect posted hundreds of images of CSAM to the Internet.
The offender was identified as David Lance Parent, age 47, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona and employed in the gardening department of Home Depot. On July 8th, 2004 the Arizona ICAC served a search warrant at Mr. Parent’s residence. The investigation confirmed that he possessed images of CSAM. Subsequent investigation revealed that David Parent had sexual contact with a minor.
Mr. Parent waived his right to trial and plead guilty to two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor. On February 3rd , 2004, Parent was sentenced to 27 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release and registration as a sex offender. Arizona State Department of Corrections Prisoner #192836.
David Jackson Donan
Internet Sexual Predator & Interstate Traveler
Offender: David Jackson Donan, age 61
In September 2003, an investigation began involving an unidentified person using the Internet screen name “Brasshatter.” Investigators learned that “Brasshatter” intended to travel via commercial aircraft from Austin, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona for the purpose of meeting a minor to engage in unlawful sexual intercourse. “Brasshatter” was later identified as David Jackson Donan, age 61, with residences in both California and Texas.
On October 20, 2003 Donan boarded a commercial aircraft and traveled from Texas to Arizona. To groom and entice his intended victim, he brought several packages of the candy – Skittles. To aid in his intended unlawful sexual acts he brought nine sexual aide devices, KY Jelly, a male sexual enhancement drug, a prescription for Viagra, and a digital camera – all in his carry-on baggage. Donan was arrested without incident upon his arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. He made no statements and was booked.
Arizona ICAC investigators and FBI agents in Arizona, California, and Texas worked cooperatively in the subsequent investigation and search of Donan’s residences for evidence. They uncovered computer evidence, firearms and other sexual aid devices belonging to Donan. Later forensics examinations of his computer also revealed a collection of CSAM.
Computer evidence indicated that Donan had bragged during Internet chat conversations about having victimized children while he had visited Thailand many years ago.
Donan waived his right to trial plead guilty to one count of the Federal offense: Travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile (Title 18, Part I, Chapter 117, 2423b). Donans’ presentence report was not favorable with indications that he had prior “hands-on” offenses with as-yet unidentified victims.
On September 29, 2004, Donan plead guilty in U.S. Federal District Court (Phoenix). Honorable Earl H. Carroll presided. Judge Carroll sentenced Donan to 7 years, 3 months prison, followed by one year residence in a transitional facility, $25,000 fine and lifetime supervised release.
Lee McCulloch
International Cooperation Leads To Conviction Of UK CSAM Image Trafficker
Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, FBI, and Gwent, South Wales, U.K. Police
- Offender: Lee McCulloch, age 26, resident of Gwent, South Wales, U.K.
- Occupation: Factory worker, Children: none
- Arrest Location: Abertillery, Gwent – South Wales, United Kingdom
- Charge: Distributing Indecent Photographs of Children (United Kingdom)
- Sentence: Eight months prison, Sex offender registration for five years.
- Agencies involved: Arizona ICAC Task Force, Phoenix P.D., F.B.I., Heddlu Gwent P.D. South Wales, U.K.
In April 2003, an investigator from the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force / Phoenix Police Department initiated an investigation into an unidentified CSAM trafficker. the investigation led to an unknown suspect in the United Kingdom. Working with the FBI and the Heddlu Gwent (UK) Police Department, investigators assembled a case that led to the identification and arrest of 26 year old Lee McCulloch in South Wales, UK.
McCulloch, a factory worker, used computers at his home in the United Kingdom to collect and traffic images of CSAM with other nefarious Internet associates. McCulloch, who is unmarried, was arrested on November 28, 2003. Investigators in the UK developed further information leading to twenty (20) other suspects there with whom McCulloch traded unlawful images.
On August 26, 2004, McCulloch was sentenced to 8 months in prison in the UK and five years of sex offender registration status.
Ryan Hugh Caskey
NCMEC Cybertip NCMEC Leads Mohave County Sheriffs to a Hands-On Offender
August 25, 2004
- Offender: Ryan Hugh Caskey, age 33, Former auto parts manager.
- Jurisdiction: Mohave County, Arizona
- Charges: Three counts of child molestation, Nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM)
- Sentence: Twenty years prison
- Agencies involved: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Arizona ICAC, Mohave County Sheriff’s Department, Bullhead City, Phoenix Police Department
For the past several months, investigators of the Arizona ICAC Task Force have been deluged with a heartbreaking flood of Internet CSAM complaints involving thousands of gruesome images of helpless children being unimaginably exploited.
In each of these cases, the unlawful image trafficking is facilitated through the use of the Internet service provider – Yahoo. Pornographers use free Yahoo services for clandestine transfer and storage of contraband images. Preferential sex offenders throughout the world make unrestrained use of Yahoo for this nefarious purpose.
In April 2004, Yahoo reported an image trafficker to the National Center for Missing Exploited Children (NCMEC investigation number 203894) Researchers there traced the source to an unknown location in Kingman, Arizona and promptly reported the case to the Arizona ICAC Task Force.
AZ ICAC/Phoenix P.D. detectives investigated and forwarded the case to the Mohave County Arizona Sheriffs Department. Detectives of Mohave County conducted an exhaustive investigation and identified the suspect, Ryan Hugh Caskey, a 33 year old auto parts manager. Det. Matthews’ excellent work also uncovered a ten year old minor child who had been molested by Caskey over a two-year period.
Investigators from the Bullhead City Police Department conducted forensics examinations of digital evidence seized from Caskey. The exam identified nine images of CSAM.
Judge Moon of Mohave County sentenced Caskey to 14 years prison for the child molestation charges and six years prison for the sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM) charges.
David Mojica Santos
Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
On October 8, 2003, Mojica Santos, age 65, was arrested for luring a minor for sexual exploitation in northwest Phoenix. Santos first came to the attention of law enforcement in July 2003, when he used the Internet to solicit sexual conduct with a minor, in violation of Arizona
Revised Statutes 13-3554.
Santos traveled from his residence in Mesa to a location in Northwest Phoenix where he intended to meet a minor for sex. He was arrested, booked, and subsequently released on bond. He later plead guilty to the court.
Santos’ Sentencing Hearing
The recent trend among judges in Maricopa County is to sometimes sentence such offenders to probation only, with no jail time. Anticipating this, we prepared a detailed statement to the sentencing judge. Here is an excerpt:
Statement of Frank Kardasz at Santos Sentencing:
“Your Honor, the innocent children we struggle to protect are unable to appear here today. They are children whose innocence was stolen by Internet sexual predators like this defendant. Most of those children will never come forward due to fear or a misplaced sense of guilt. A few of them, like 13 year old Kasie Woody of Arkansas, and 13 year old Christina Long of Connecticut, were forever silenced by Internet sexual predators.”
“According to reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in five girls and one in ten boys will be sexually victimized before they reach adulthood, and less than 35% of these crimes will ever be reported.”
“The Internet provides an unparalleled opportunity for criminals to unearth themselves and victimize unwary young people. Research indicates that of the estimated 24 million child Internet users, one in five received a unwanted sexual solicitation, but only one in four told a parent.”
“Curious and innocent youngsters are flocking to the Internet seeking friendship and information but are instead finding sexual deviants and predators. My undercover investigators and I have witnessed no shortage of adults chatting on the Internet with the stated intention of sexually victimizing minors. Over the past few years our caseload has skyrocketed while our resources have not.”
“Our investigation of this defendant revealed that his Internet chat was not an isolated incident but part of a series of ongoing offenses occurring against multiple victims over an extended period of time. He was not the unfortunate victim of a “sting” caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. He is a practiced Internet sexual predator.”
“Forensics analysis of his computer revealed that he did not spend his idle time enjoying normal retirement hobbies or mentoring his family or community. This former missionary spent his day prowling cyberspace in search of young sexual prey.”
“We discovered Internet chat conversations he had with four as yet unidentified girls aged fifteen, fourteen and eleven. In each of the chats he quickly turned the conversation to sex and began to manipulate each girl towards meeting him for sex.”
“I am going to read brief excerpts of the chat conversations the defendant had with various young girls he contacted on the Internet. Much of the language is so sexually graphic that I will not repeat it verbatim.”
- “Do you like older guys?”
- “Have you had sex yet?”
- “Are you curious about having sex?”
- “Do you think you would like to have sex sometime soon?”
- “I wish I was next door to you….and then maybe not. I might rape you.”
- “What city do you live in….I was just wondering if there is a large airport nearby.”
- “You just don’t know how badly I want to (expletive) you right now.”
“And I will stop there your Honor because the conversations deteriorate graphically from there.”
“Your Honor, I have watched defendants in similar circumstances appear in these courtrooms arguing that everything they did was fantasy role-playing and that they were the unfortunate victims of zealous police operations. That’s hogwash.”
“Was it fantasy when this defendant drove over 20 miles from Mesa to Northeast Phoenix for the expressed purpose of meeting a minor for sex? Was it fantasy when the defendant brought condoms with him to the meeting? Condoms that he admitted that he does not use with his wife.”
“Apologists for this defendant may look at his age and surmise that he has little capacity for future offenses – I disagree. This defendant had the physical capacity to proudly display on the Internet, graphic sexual images of himself, captured with a computer web camera and in a variety of poses.”
“In similar cases my colleagues and I have watched defendants receive minimal sentencing by other courts, only to re-offend later. In one recent case the defendant mocked the court by continuing to solicit minors for sex while the defendant was out on bond only days after his original arrest. In another of our cases, the convicted defendant, while free on probation, immediately began producing, acting in, and trafficking CSAM, including images of himself sexually abusing three young children under shocking and horrifying circumstances.”
“The Arizona law as it stands permits the court to exercise wide discretion in sentencing this offense. We trust that this court will act in the best interest of our community and send a strong message to this and all other Internet sexual predators.”
“Finally your honor, we request that this court’s judgment provide a message of reassurance to the children unable to appear in your courtroom today that their rights are being defended at this, the highest level of County justice.”
Sentence
On June 18, 2004, Santos was sentenced before Judge Hotham of the Maricopa County Superior Court. He received ten months jail and lifetime probation Link to Court Documents – Case Number #CR2003-023012
Jesse Orlando Albin
CSAM
On March 19, 2004, Jesse O. Albin, a 24 year old former circulation attendant at the Century Branch of the Phoenix Public Library in Arizona was sentenced by Judge Reinstein of the Maricopa County Superior Court. After an exhausting series of unsuccessful defense appeals, Albin plead guilty to reduced charges consisting of two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of minors.
Albin will serve five years in prison and lifetime probation. He will be required to register as a sex offender, provide a DNA sample, and abide by special probationary restrictions related to his future use of computers.
The case began in April 2002, when the Phoenix Police Department received a report that Albin duplicated and distributed CSAM using computers at the Phoenix Arizona Public Library Century Branch at 1750 E. Highland. A witness provide police with a compact disk said to contain CSAM that was alleged to have been produced by Albin.
Further investigation confirmed the allegations. As the investigation continued it was learned that Albin produced and distributed another disk containing CSAM that was also turned over to police.
In June, 2002, search warrants were served at the library and also at Albin’s residence. Computers, documents and media were seized. A disk containing more CSAM was seized from Albin’s employee locker.
At the time of the search warrant, a library administrator advised investigators that Albin had once received supervisory counseling for improper computer use when he hacked the library computer network and improperly used file transfer programs. The library had never informed police of this felony computer tampering offense.
Albin was interviewed and admitted that he used library computers to view and download images of children. A pediatrician examined numerous contraband images uncovered by investigators and confirmed that the children depicted were minors, many of whom were under fifteen years of age, some of whom were engaged in sex acts. These children are not yet identified. AZ State Prisoner 184540
Gary Lee Davis
CSAM
On February 20 2004, 24 year old Gary Lee Davis plead guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor for possessing CSAM. The case began on March 24 2003, when a horrified patron of the Cholla branch of the Phoenix Public library at 10050 Metro Parkway East noticed that Davis was viewing CSAM on a public-access computer there. The Phoenix Public Library Internet-use rules tacitly permit felony CSAM violations through a policy of feigned helplessness.
The alert patron notified the lethargic library staff and repeatedly demanded that police be notified. As Davis fled in a vehicle, responding Phoenix Police officers stopped and arrested him nearby. Davis was found in possession of dozens of disturbing images of children being sexually exploited.
Investigators were unable to substantiate rumors that Davis had committed child molestation. He was permitted to plead guilty before Judge Granville to possession of one unlawful image and received the Arizona minimum mandatory sentence for the offense, ten years of prison. Davis also received lifetime probation and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. AZ State Prisoner 183801. Link to Court Documents – Case # CR2003017060
Morton Robert Berger
CSAM
February 26, 2007
In 2002, Morton Berger was a married, 51 year old high school teacher when AZ ICAC Task Force investigators conducted a CSAM investigation at his home. Pursuant to a knock-and-talk and search warrant, investigators uncovered Berger’s demented pornographic treasure trove including binders containing printed images and thousands of computer files of every imaginable style of pornography. Investigators also learned that Berger had groomed his comparatively young (2nd) wife years earlier when she was a minor working as a movie theater clerk where he had been a manager
Arizona State Law contains serious penalties for possession of CSAM A single image carries a sentencing range from 10-24 years mandatory prison with no early release provisions. Prosecutors offered Berger a plea of 17 years prison which he declined.
Prosecutors charged Berger with twenty of the unlawful images. After trial, the horrified jury quickly convicted, and Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Ruth Harris Hilliard sentenced Berger to the mandatory minimum, ten years prison for each of the twenty images. No concurrent sentencing here either – that’s 200 years as a guest of the Arizona State Department of Corrections.
The 200 year sentence caused the case to receive brief nationwide attention, including a short spot on the O’Reily factor that included Berger sniveling, “I didn’t touch anyone”.
Local Phoenix media and the Arizona defense bar crowed and cawed, causing the politically elastic (and soon to be private-sector) Maricopa County Attorney, Rick Romley, to retreat to a policy of charging a maximum of only six images of CSAM per offender. The pull back was designed to result in a maximum 60 year prison term for CSAM offenders and deflect critics of the longer sentences.
Berger appealed the 200 year sentence based on arguments of equal protection under the law and cruel and unusual punishment. In December 2004, the conviction was affirmed by two of the three judges of the Arizona Court of Appeals (Division One).
Judges Susan Ehrlich and Philip Hall dismissed Berger’s appeal with well-reasoned and researched arguments including (citations omitted):
“It is evident beyond the need for elaboration that a State’s interest in safeguarding the physical and psychological well-being of a minor is compelling.”
“…the victimization of a child continues when that act is memorialized in an image. The materials produced are a permanent record of the children’s participation and the harm to the child is exacerbated by their circulation. Unfortunately, the victimization of the children involved does not end when the pornographer’s camera is put away.”
“The legislative judgment…is that the use of children as subjects of pornographic materials is harmful to the physiological, emotional, and mental health of the child.”
“…the possession of child pornography drives that industry and…the production of child pornography will decrease if those who possess the product are punished equally with those who produce it.”
“…it (the law) will decrease the production of child pornography if it penalizes those who possess and view the product, thereby decreasing demand.”
“…the possession of child pornography inflames the desires of child molesters, pedophiles and child pornographers.”
“The State has more than a passing interest in forestalling the damage caused by child pornography: preventing harm to children is, without cavil, one of its most important interests. …we cannot fault the State for attempting to stamp out this vice at all levels in the distribution chain.”
“Berger downloaded images from the Internet, and every time he visited a website, he demonstrated to the producers and sellers of child pornography that there was a demand for their product. Berger’s demand served to drive the industry; there need not have been a direct monetary exchange.”
“Berger maintains also that, because his possession of the pornographic images was passive and because he did not use threats or violence in the commission of his crimes, his sentence is grossly disproportionate. This logic is abstruse. As was described by this court in Hazlett, 205 Ariz. at 527 p 11, 73 P.3d at 1262, and as is evident from the violent pornographic images in this case, child pornography is a form of child abuse.”
“The materials produced are a permanent record of the children’s participation and the harm to the child is exacerbated by their circulation.”
Morton Berger is scheduled for release on June 22, 2175. His prison work assignments have thus far included: Tutor-Education and Jewish Holy Day Service.
Read the courts ruling at: http://www.cofad1.state.az.us/opinionfiles/cridx.htm
Visit Bergers State-sponsored web pages:http://www.azcorrections.gov/cgi-bin/ISentence.cgi/136249220049041219
Link to court documents – Case # CR2002013657
On February 26, 2007 the US Supreme Court refused to hear Berger’s appeal and he remains in custody.
Sergio Galaz Coronado
Internet Sexual Predator
On August 3, 2001, 24 year old Sergio Galaz Coronado, a Computer Aided Design Draftsman was arrested in Phoenix and charged with attempt sexual exploitation of a minor. Coronado had used the Internet with the intent to meet a minor for sex.
He made lurid on-line statements including:
- “Do you shave down there?”
- “I have a 7.5 inch, nice and thick”
- “I bet you would like to hold a nice thick one”
- “I would let you taste it if you wanted to”
- “Do you have big (expletive)?”
- “Would you let me feel on your (expletive)?”
- “I bet you are going to like having my big (expletive) in your hand”
- “Are you going to (expletive deleted) it for me?”
- “You are going to luv it when I stick my tongue inside of you”
On January 15, 2002, Coronado was found guilty pursuant to a jury trial and Judge Robert L Gottsfield of the Maricopa County Arizona Superior court sentenced him to six months jail and ten years probation.
Alan Joseph Fritz
CSAM
On April 3, 2003, Alan Joseph Fritz, age 20, was sentenced to ten years prison and lifetime probation in Maricopa County Arizona Superior Court for one count of sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM). The investigation began when it was learned that a computer once belonging to Fritz contained CSAM The subsequent investigation proved that Fritz was guilty and it was also learned that he had a prior sex offense from another jurisdiction.
Arizona Department of Corrections Inmate #175497.
Jonathon Charles Zulker
Internet Sexual Predator
On June 13, 2001, Jonathon C. Zulker, a 29 year-old laborer, used the Internet to arrange to meet a minor for sex. He traveled from Tempe, Arizona to west Phoenix for the purpose of meeting the minor. He was arrested and charged with attempt sexual conduct with a minor in Maricopa County Superior Court. He plead guilty. Judge Crane McLennen sentenced him to only three months jail and ten years probation.
Maricopa County Superior Court Case number CR2001-009641.
Brian Paul Stutzman
Internet Sexual Predator
On March 05, 2002, Brian P. Stutzman, a 29 year old Wal-Mart Employee, used the Internet to arrange to meet a minor for sex. He traveled from Glendale Arizona to Phoenix for the purpose of meeting the minor. He was arrested and charged with attempt sexual conduct with a minor in Maricopa County Superior Court. While free on bond from the original offense he again used the Internet in an attempt to meet a different minor for sex. He plead guilty to the original charge. Judge M. Jean Hoag sentenced him to six months jail, lifetime probation and sex offender registration requirements.
Maricopa County Superior Court Case number CR2002-004661
Edmund Guevara Idolor
Internet Sexual Predator
In October, 2002, 29 year old unemployed Edmund G. Idolor, a married father of five, used the Internet to arrange to meet a minor for sex. He then borrowed a car and drove 43 miles from Mesa, Arizona to Phoenix where he was arrested. Idolor plead guilty to luring a minor for sexual exploitation and dangerous crime against children.
On March 11, 2003, Idolor was sentenced to one year in jail, lifetime probation, and registration as a sex offender.
Maricopa County Court Documents – Case # CR2002019133
Robert William Smith
Internet Sexual Predator & International Traveler from the UK
Pursuant to a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Robert William Smith, age 23, was identified as intending to travel from the town of Berwick Upon Tweed in the United Kingdom to Phoenix, Arizona, for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor.
A joint Task Force investigation revealed that Smith’s relationship with the minor began with chat room conversations at an Internet game site and involved repeated e-mail correspondence over a one-year period.
Investigators learned that Smith made a prior trip to Phoenix and had sexually victimized the minor at that time. On November 18, 2002, after the 5,000 mile flight, Smith was arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The Northumbria UK police assisted in the investigation.
On February 14, 2003, Smith plead guilty to luring a minor for sexual exploitation and sexual conduct with a minor. Judge Hotham of the Maricopa County Superior Court sentenced Smith to one year in jail, lifetime probation, and registration as a sex offender.
The victims family reported that he has attempted to contact the victim via telephone.
Link to Court Documents – Case # CR2002019985
Larry D. Branum
Internet Sexual Predator
Reverend Larry D. Branum, Pastor of the God’s Refuge Church, in Dewey AZ, plead guilty to luring a minor for sexual exploitation – via the Internet. The case originated in Phoenix Arizona.
In October 2001, Branum was sentenced to, and served, one year in jail.
He is now a registered sex offender.
Terry Wesley Alexander
Internet Sexual Predator
On May 29, 2001, 46 year old Terry Wesley Alexander, a divorced marketing director, was arrested in Tempe, Arizona and charged with attempt sexual conduct with a minor. Alexander had used the Internet with the intent to meet a minor for sex.
He had met someone on the Internet whom he believed was a woman who would permit him to have sex with her two children. One of the children was named Dana, the other Erica. Using the screen name “Yosemite4me”, Alexander had listed his hobbies as coaching, playing and umpiring, baseball, biking, hiking, working out and running.
The statements below are excerpts from chat conversations Alexander had with the person whom he believed was the mother:
- “So is your soon to be teen daughter checking out guys yet?”
- “To many people have such closed minds, they miss a lot of fun”
- “Your girls will have more fun if they are open minded”
- “Well I think they will be bored with guys their own age, they will think they are geeks.”
- “She is probably ready for a relationship dont you think?”
- “I would think she is ready and definately ready for oral”
- “Oral is so good…..could lead to more”
- “While making love to my girlfriend I think of you and Dana”
- “Can I bring Dana a birthday present?”
- “So many times I have thought about holding Danas hand, of kissing her”
- “And I want to make sure you are still open minded about Dana and Erica with an older man”
- “We could always have a great game of stip poker”
- “Nice way to be naked and not make a big deal about it”
- “Erica and Dana and I could sit together on the sofa”
The following statements are excerpts from chat conversations Alexander had with the person whom he believed to be a minor child:
- “You and I could be together”
- “When we are alone, we could kiss”
- “I could rub your back for you, or rub your legs”
- “Kissing you would be so hot”
- “If you wanted we could do more than kiss”
- ‘Your mom wants you to be happy”
- “I could watch you change into your favorite outfits”
- “Or if you wanted you could leave the panties and bra off sometimes”
- “Being naked with you will be so nice”
- “Sex is a great feeling”
- “Maybe you will want to try it”
- “We will take our time going inside you”
- “And if Erika wants she can be there too”
- “Mom just watches”
- “If it begins to hurt, we will slow down”
- “If you want you can (expletive) it”
Alexander was arrested after he traveled from California to Arizona for the purpose of meeting with the mother and children for sex. He brought playing cards and gifts with him.
On February 13, 2002 Alexander plead guilty to one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor in the Maricopa County (Arizona) Superior Court of Judge Arthur T. Anderson. Judge Anderson sentenced Alexander to six months jail, lifetime probation, and sex offender registration.
Read the courts decision at: http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/
enter the case number CR2001008589
Terry Wesley Alexander is now a registered sex offender in California.
see: http://www.nsopr.gov/
Christopher J. Vamvakis
Internet Sexual Predator & Interstate Traveler
In May 2001, 45 year Christopher J. Vamvakis, a maintenance supervisor at a nuclear power plant in Washington, used the Internet at his local library to arrange to meet a minor for sex.
He then left his wife and three daughters and traveled 1,200 miles via commercial aircraft to Phoenix, Arizona where he was arrested.
On 11/02/01, he plead guilty to attempt sexual conduct with a minor and was sentenced to one year incarceration and lifetime probation.
He subsequently violated the terms of his probation and was returned to prison.
Link to Court Documents – Case # CR2001009134. AZ State Prisoner 185801
Mark Gregory Purhmann
CSAM
In January 2002, an alert Phoenix computer repairman reported seeing CSAM on a
customers’ computer. An investigation led to Mark Purhmann. Purhmann plead guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM) and was sentenced to ten years in prison and lifetime sex offender designation.
Link to Court Documents – Case # CR2001015490. AZ State Prisoner 167951.
Daniel Eaton Wildes
CSAM
In February 2001, an investigation led to computer technician Daniel Wildes. Wildes had stolen computer access from a Phoenix, Arizona cable company and trafficked in CSAM
In January 2002, Wildes plead guilty to several counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (CSAM).
On 02/07/02, Wildes was sentenced to five years in Arizona State Prison. Upon release he will receive lifetime sex offender designation. AZ State Prisoner 164925