Vinton, Louisiana — A 24-year-old Vinton man faces 11 counts of pornography involving juveniles after an investigation revealed he downloaded and shared child sexual abuse material through multiple online accounts, according to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office.
Derek W. Hess, 24, of Vinton, Louisiana, was arrested Oct. 22 at his residence following a two-month investigation conducted by the sheriff's office Special Victim Unit detectives, who work with the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The investigation began Aug. 27 after detectives received a complaint from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a nonprofit organization that works with law enforcement to combat child exploitation. The center operates a cyber tip line that receives reports of suspected child sexual exploitation from the public and electronic service providers.
According to the sheriff's office, the investigation identified Hess as the owner of an online account that contained child sexual abuse material, or CSAM. This term refers to any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor.
When detectives located Hess at his home, he admitted to downloading and sharing the illegal material using multiple online accounts, the sheriff's office stated.
Hess was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on the 11 pornography charges. His bond remains pending.
CPSO Deputy Blake Davenport and Sgt. Alex Jones served as the arresting deputies. CPSO Sr. Sgt. Alexander Vincent is the lead investigator on the case.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force operates as a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing more than 5,400 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. These agencies work together to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to exploit children.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.