CINCINNATI - Jake M. Damron, 25, of Loveland, Ohio, was arrested yesterday and charged with receipt and distribution of child pornography.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes and the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the charge.
Damron was charged by a criminal complaint that was unsealed today at his initial appearance in federal court.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Hamilton Township Police received a report on November 20 that Damron had taken pornographic pictures of a five year old to whom he had access. It was reported that Damron was trading images of the victim for other child pornography via the Kik messenger app.
During an interview with FBI agents, Damron confirmed that he had taken sexually explicit photographs of the five year old. He stated this was the only victim he had photographed and that he had “probably" taken them due to easy access.
Receipt and distribution of child pornography in this case is punishable by a range of five to 20 years in prison.
“I commend the investigation by the FBI and the Hamilton Township Police, particularly the speed with which they were able to act," said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “This kind of close cooperation between federal and local law enforcement partners helps make urgent action possible." U.S. Attorney Glassman further commended Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey, who is prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
