A 20-year-old Marine veteran from Colerain Township, Jesus Flores, has pleaded not guilty in Hamilton County to a charge of pandering obscenity involving children. At his Friday arraignment, a judge set bond at $15,000 and ordered him to stay off the internet and away from children while investigators comb through digital evidence. What started as one online tip is now shaping up to be a full-fledged criminal case.
According to investigators, the probe began after detectives received an online tip about a message sent through the Kik app. Police say the message’s IP address traced back to Flores’ Colerain Township home and to Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he had been stationed. Detectives say Flores provided his phone password, and officers reported finding additional videos on the device. Officials said they have not yet finished reviewing his laptop and that more charges could be possible, according to WLWT.
What the charge covers
Pandering obscenity involving a minor is defined under the Ohio Revised Code, which makes it a crime to create, distribute, possess, or otherwise handle obscene material that features minors. Most violations are treated as a second-degree felony, and the statute specifically says that a “mistake of age” is not a defense. A conviction can bring prison time along with long-term collateral consequences.
How investigators trace online leads
Many investigations begin when electronic service providers or members of the public flag suspected child sexual abuse material to NCMEC’s CyberTipline. The organization reviews incoming tips and routes leads to Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and local law enforcement. NCMEC says its analysts work to pinpoint the likely geographic origin of online posts, then share that information with investigators, who can follow up with IP records, device data, or search warrants…