Calif. Dad Accused of Being Complicit in Scheme for Teen Daughter to Sell Nude Photos Online: Police
Detectives allege that the girl's father had known she was selling nude photos online and had been “complicit” in obtaining the profits
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A man in California was arrested after he was accused of being complicit in a scheme in which his underage daughter sold nude photos of herself online.
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted on social media that in August, detectives from their sex crime unit and high tech unit began investigating a 16-year-old girl who they believed had been selling nude photos online for money.
The sheriff's office noted in their statement that the girl “had a very well known online presence on a variety of social media platforms.”
After months of investigating, detectives discovered that she was indeed “selling illegal content online” and had made about $40,000 in profit from selling the nude photos of herself.
Related: Fla. Teacher Allegedly Kissed Underage Student in Classroom, Made Sexual Comments to Him for Weeks
Detectives also alleged that her father had known what she was doing online and had been “complicit” in obtaining the profits from the sales of the nude photos.
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said it executed a search warrant at the home of the father and daughter and the father was taken into custody on felony charges including sex trafficking, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and child abuse.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, charges for child sex trafficking for teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 could result in a minimum of ten years to life in prison.
The U.S. Department of Justice also noted that proof that the “defendant used force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion, or any combination of those means, to cause the minor to engage in a commercial sex act” is not required to charge someone of committing the crime.
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PEOPLE reached out to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office for more information on this case, but a spokesperson said the office would not be releasing any further information on this case at this time.
The sheriff's office said the investigation is ongoing.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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