Riverside Police announce arrests in child sexual exploitation investigations
BOOKING PHOTO: Riverside PD
As published by the Riverside Police Department via Facebook:
“RIVERSIDE, CA – The Riverside Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC), part of the Sexual Assault – Child Abuse Unit (SACA), has been conducting investigations regarding multiple suspects involved in the downloading, uploading, and sharing of child pornography over the internet during the past several months.
These investigations stemmed from “cyber tips” received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), alleging the suspects had used various social media platforms to share images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of very young children, along with proactive efforts to locate the suspects involved in this type of activity. Once detectives identified the suspects involved, they obtained and served search warrants at their residences in order to obtain additional evidence and make the arrests.
The following arrests were made as a result of the detectives’ proactive policing efforts.
Juan Flores, 25-years-old, was arrested and booked into jail for possession and distribution of child pornography after detectives received a cyber tip in February 2019 regarding a subject sharing child pornography via Instagram. Additional evidence was discovered during a search of his residence.
Mark Tyler, 59-years-old of Riverside, was arrested and booked into jail for possession and distribution of child pornography after detectives received information in April 2019 that he was sharing child pornography over the internet. Their search of his residence uncovered additional evidence.
Armando Gonzalez, 42-years-old of Riverside, was arrested and booked into jail for possession and distribution of child pornography after detectives discovered he was sharing child pornography over the internet. Additional evidence of criminal activity was discovered during a search of his residence.
Christopher Rivers, 28-years-old of Riverside, was identified by detectives as a person sharing child pornography via Instagram after receiving a cyber tip from NCMEC in June 2019. He was arrested and booked into jail for possession and distribution of child pornography. Additional evidence was located during a search of his residence.
Leonardo Galvan, 46-years-old of Riverside, was arrested and booked into jail in October 2019 for possession and distribution of child pornography after detectives identified him as a person sharing child pornography via Facebook. Additional evidence was located during a search of his residence.
Detectives are currently working to locate and arrest 24-year-old Eric Stiegelmeyer. At the time they discovered he was sharing child pornography over the internet, Eric was an active duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. Detectives worked together with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Escondido Police Department to identify Eric and arrange to interview him. They also learned Escondido Police also had an open investigation on Eric for the same type of criminal activity. Unfortunately, Eric was discharged by the Marine Corps without notice to the investigators before a federal arrest warrant was obtained.
Our ICAC Unit has partnered with the Riverside County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force (SAFE), along with the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigating criminal activity related to the sexual exploitation of children over the internet. “Riverside Police ICAC detectives have received extensive training related to child exploitation investigations, and have put that training to good use to help ensure children are protected from these types of predators,” said Sergeant Rick Wheeler, who supervises the SACA Unit.”
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