OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, has cracked a child abuse case. Their investigation began after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Detectives arrested Juan Hernandez-Arciniega on suspicion of multiple violations of RCW 9.68A.050 Dealing in Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. The arrest came “following an extensive investigation into the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material,” according to an OPD press release.
The investigation was a “collaborative effort involving the Othello Police Department, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Department of Homeland Security, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and K9 Blaze, a specialized electronic storage detection canine whose assistance was instrumental in the operation.
According to OPD, the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may follow upon discovery of new evidence.
