SALT LAKE CITY — At least three people were arrested this week in unrelated child pornography investigations in Salt Lake, Davis and Uintah counties.
On Wednesday, Mariah Butler, 28, of Layton, was booked into the Davis County Jail for investigation of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
From Jan. 16 until her arrest, Butler “was identified by the FBI for possessing, distributing and advertising child pornography on a social media application commonly used for the sexual exploitation of children,” according to a police booking affidavit.
Police served a search warrant on Butler’s home on Wednesday and found “numerous videos and images of child rape” and sexual abuse of prepubescent children and toddlers, the affidavit states.
Roberto Lopez Hernandez, 20, of Salt Lake City, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Tuesday for investigation of 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation in October. Investigators reviewed more than a dozen images provided to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that eventually led to a search warrant being served on Hernandez’s residence on Tuesday, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“Evidence of child pornography was found on Mr. Hernandez’s iPhone,” the affidavit states, while also noting that “approximately 100 files of child pornography” were found.
Investigators found child pornography involving children under the age of 5, the affidavit states. Authorities said they found that particularly concerning since Hernandez allegedly babysits children the same age.
He was formally charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony. Prosecutors also said they intend to seek forfeiture of property if he is convicted.
“Hernandez stated he may have downloaded child pornography while downloading adult pornography. When asked if he knowingly downloaded child pornography, Hernandez invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and stopped speaking,” according to charging documents.
“Of the images identified as child pornography, almost every victim depicted in the child pornography, both in the charged and uncharged images, range in age from approximately 33 months to 2 years old,” the charges state.
Investigators requested bail be set at $500,000.
On Monday, Cameron Garrett Boren, 57, of Vernal, was arrested by task force agents. He was formally charged Thursday with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
When police questioned Boren, he said he had about 100 images of child pornography on his computer.
“Cameron advised that he figured something like this was going to happen and contemplated coming down to the police department and turning himself in for the conduct,” according to a police affidavit. “Cameron advised that he knows what he did was wrong and he feels that he needs help for this, and labeled it an addiction.
“Cameron advised that he partially blames Google for making it so easy and also blames his drinking.”