BOONE – The Boone County Attorney’s Office, the Boone Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Cyber Crime Unit – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are currently conducting an investigation in Boone, Iowa into online storage accounts of nude, minor females.
In late August of 2014, the Boone Police Department became aware of an incident involving a male juvenile high school student attempting to extort sexual photographs and sexual acts from a female juvenile high school student. An arrest has been made for the charge of extortion.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that numerous past and present High School students were in control and operated several online based storage accounts that contained various photographs and videos of nude juvenile females. It was also discovered that over 100 unique users had access to these accounts. It appears that the collection was amassed over several years by area high school students.
During the investigation Law Enforcement officers seized and took over several separate online based accounts and email accounts that contained the nude pictures and videos of the female high school juveniles. In addition, several search warrants have been executed, and legal processes have been put in place to maintain and secure the digital evidence. To date, multiple females, mostly minors, have been identified on the accounts in question (photographs and videos).
At this point, it appears that Law Enforcement has been able to secure and contain the accounts in question, preventing further sharing and distribution of the photographs and videos.
The Boone County Attorney’s Office, the Boone Police Department and the DCI are working to identify each and every individual in the videos and photos. Notification to the victims and their families has already begun and will continue as the investigation continues. The Boone ACCESS Assault Care Center is available and providing victim’s services. They can be reached at 432-3606 or on the Crisis Line at 1-800-203-3488.
This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and as such we ask for your patience as law enforcement and the county attorney’s office works through all of the evidence and additional interviews. At this time, it is possible that additional charges could be forthcoming; the Boone County Attorney will review the Law Enforcement reports and make an assessment at that time.
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