New law gives internet crimes against children investigators more jurisdictional abilities

OSBI Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) agents, OSBI Computer Crimes agents, and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Members from Guthrie Police Department, and the Edmond Police Department made yet another arrest of a man distributing child pornography over the Internet.

With the assistance of Oklahoma City Police officers, a search warrant was served at 1341 Chestnut Drive, Oklahoma City. The warrant was based on a proactive, undercover investigation by a Guthrie police officer into distribution of child pornography. Investigators arrested Gerarado Carreon, 22, and seized several computer-related items at the home. An on-site preview of those items revealed remnants of possession and distribution of child pornography. The computers will be transported to the OSBI Computer Crimes lab for further forensic examination. Carreon was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail for Distribution of Child Pornography and Violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.

This is one of many arrests by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in the past few weeks. This effort is due to a bill sponsored last legislative session by Sen. Patrick Anderson (R-Enid) and Representative Jason Nelson (R-OKC) and signed into law by Governor Mary Fallin. That bill, SB 1016, went into effect November 1.

The measure gives the Director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation the authority to issue statewide jurisdiction to certain Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Members who investigate technology-facilitated crimes against children and additional crimes associated with that, such as child abuse, trafficking in children, and other crimes.

The task force used proactive, undercover investigations to search for the possession and distribution of child pornography via the Internet. A task force member from the Guthrie Police Department was able to make a case on eight computers within the state recently. Each individual case was assigned to task force members from the Guthrie Police Department, Edmond Police Department, Tulsa Police Department, Sand Springs Police Department, and the OSBI ICAC Unit.

Task force members started with cases investigated by the Edmond Police Department. Monday, December 17, task force members from the Edmond Police Department, Guthrie Police Department, the OSBI ICAC and Computer Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Oklahoma City Police Department served two search warrants in Oklahoma City. The first was in far north Oklahoma City and is still under investigation. The second was served at 2101 NW 115th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Several computer-related items were seized at the scene. An on-scene forensic preview of the computer revealed it contained child pornography. Edmond Police arrested William Vines, 32. Vines was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail for Possession of Child Pornography and Violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.

Guthrie police investigated two cases. Tuesday, December 18, task force members from the Guthrie Police Department, Edmond Police Department, the OSBI ICAC and Computer Crimes Units, assisted by Pauls Valley Police, served a search warrant at 113 Kendall, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Several computer-related items were seized at the home. An on-scene preview of the computer revealed it contained images of child pornography. Investigators arrested Preston Jones, 33. Jones was booked into the Garvin County Jail for Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, and Violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act. In addition, another occupant of the residence, Nikita McMean, was arrested by Pauls Valley police officers on drug-related complaints and booked into the Garvin County Jail.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012, task force members from the Guthrie Police Department, Edmond Police Department, and the OSBI ICAC and Computer Crimes Unit served a search warrant at 12808 Brandon Place, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Guthrie Police arrested Eric Mowery, 38. Mowery is a band director at Hefner Middle School in the Putnam City School District. Mowery was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail for Distribution of Child Pornography, six counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and Violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.

OSBI ICAC Unit agents initiated two cases. Tuesday, December 18, 2012, task force members from the Guthrie Police Department and the OSBI ICAC and Computer Crimes Unit arrested Stephen H. Jackson, 46, after serving a search warrant at his home, #6 Shadow Wood, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Investigators seized several computer-related items from the residence. On-scene previews of the computer items revealed pornographic images of at least two local children. The investigation will continue to determine if any additional children are in the images. Task force deputies with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office assisted in collecting evidence from Piedmont where Jackson worked. Jackson was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail and is being held on two counts of Possession of Child Pornography, one count of Distribution of Child Pornography, three counts of Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography, one count of Production of Child Pornography, 10 counts of Forcible Sodomy, one count of Lewd Acts to a Child Under 16, and Violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.

Related story: Guthrie Police officer helps lead to arrest of OKC man

In addition to the six search warrants and activities listed above, task force members from the Tulsa Police and Sand Springs Police Departments served search warrants in their cities. Those cases are still under investigation.