A Uintah County Man Arrested On Several Counts Of Child Pornography
- Travis Uresk
- Jul 27, 2024
- 5 min read
By Travis Uresk
7/27/24
| Vernal, Ut. | July 25th, 2024 |
On May 7th, 2024, Detective Hunting received a case from the National Center Of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a social media user who uploaded sexually explicit material of of underage children.
The report from NCMEC reads: On October 19th, 2023, the Electronic Service Provider (ESP) made a report that they had become aware of a user having uploaded a child exploitation video. The video is described as a pubescent female, approximately 11 years of age. The female is nude, exposing her torso, chest, and face. She looks into the camera and states, Daddy, can you please xxx on my face? Her exposed body, speech, and facial expressions are the video's main focus. No other individuals are present in the video.
ESP provided Subscriber data between 08/11/2023 17:33:46 (UTC) and 08/15/2023 5:08:33 (UTC). Several IP addresses were being used. These specific IP addresses are located in Vernal, Utah, and the account was created on June 19th, 2023. They also provided a file upload date and time.
Due to multiple IP addresses, NCMEC used an IP address returning to the Denver, Colorado area as a suspect location. A Civilian Criminal Investigator of the Colorado Springs Police Department submitted a batch warrant containing the email address provided by NCMEC. He received a response containing the pay account information identifying 43-year-old Justin McKay Anthony as a possible suspect.
The Colorado Springs Police Department conducted a search for Justin and found his current residence to be in Uintah County.
A local involvement search was conducted for Justin matching what the Colorado Springs Police Department's search found. It showed from 2017 to current date Justin has resided within Vernal/Uintah County. A phone number search resulted in identifying the telephone company as having a wireless service out of Provo Utah.
On June 5th, 2024, a search warrant pertaining to the information that NCMEC provided was approved and submitted to the ESP.
The warrant return contained 603 files of pornographic material. Of those 603 files, approximately 64 files contained Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), both still images and videos, with the youngest child being roughly the age of 5.
There were approximately 223 files (both still images and videos) uploaded from multiple sources pertaining to adult pornography, including same-sex individuals, bestiality, and anime/cartoon images and videos.
Also, there were approximately 295 files (both still images and videos) were uploaded pertaining to what appears to be home productions of adult pornography, including pictures of a male's face, male genitals being restrained by a rope, pleasing himself with multiple sexual toys, and a male wearing a white bracelet and numerous women's panties.
On June 7th, 2024, a search warrant for Justin's phone number was approved and submitted to the wireless phone provider.
On June 24th, 2024, Detective Hunter received a return on this warrant, which identified the account owner, prior address, dates of service, IP addresses used during the time period requested, and the phone device information. This information is consistent with both the Colorado Springs Police Department's and Detective Hunter’s search results.
A Judicial Order was approved and submitted to a local internet service provider. During the requested time period, two different leases were associated with this IP address. The IP was leased to Sarah and Justin Anthony, with their residence listed and contact phone numbers.
One phone number belongs to Justin's daughter, who has resided in the residence as recent as January 2018. The second phone belongs to Justin's wife as recently as May 2024. Following their lease the IP was then leased to another individual at another residence within the Vernal Area.
The detective searched Justin's profile on social media, and she found that he had posted about starting a new business and his prior employer. Justin's prior employer has been a company that has provided informational technology, operational technology, and internet management and consulting within the Uintah Basin area for the past 12 years.
Detective Hunter did a Utah Business Search and located Justin's business. This business was registered on May 31st, 2023, to Justin Mckay Anthony at a residence located in Vernal, Utah.
Detective Hunter stated in the affidavit, “With Justin's prior work experience, it is apparent that he is familiar with technology, including but not limited to network infrastructure, cybersecurity, Wi-Fi engineering, and heatmap plans. He knows how to change his IP address as he sees fit. Justin's prior employment and current business would provide ample opportunity in remote areas within the Uintah Basin to conduct the outdoor images retrieved from the ESP warrant."
On July 25th, 2024, Detective Hunter interviewed Justin. After being advised of his Miranda Rights, he decided to speak with Detective Collom and Detective Hunter.
Justin confirmed that he owned the email address and the ESP account and that his ESP account had been deleted. While in custody, Justin admitted to sending, receiving, and downloading/possessing CSAM. Justin stated he was able to disassociate himself from the juvenile victims in the images/videos, saying, "They are all over. I'm sure you have seen them before.”
Justin went on to say that he acts out fantasies with others online and didn't expect the others to be children. He described his fantasies as ranging from children to adults and same-sex intercourse.
Justin stated he viewed pornographic material as recently as this morning. Justin said he watches several genres of pornographic material depending on how he feels.
Justin was then booked into Uintah County Jail on the criminal offenses of Distributing Pornographic material on multiple (10) counts as a third-degree Felony, Sexual Exploitation of a minor on ten (10) counts as a second-degree Felony. Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor on three (3) counts as a first-degree Felony. Resulting of the ESP warrant return, Justin had over 200 images/videos of pornographic material both from home production and downloaded from the internet.
Justin distributed three pornographic images/videos depicting pubescent girls aged 13 and under to unknown individuals, with over 60 photos/videos of child sexual material located.
Based on the affirmation of Detective Hunter the arresting officer, the undersigned magistrate finds that probable cause existed for the arrest without a warrant of Justin Mckay Anthony.
The current offense is a felony. The court finds substantial evidence to support the charge, and finds by clear and convincing evidence that Justin Mckay Anthony would constitute a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail.
Therefore, the court orders that Justin Mckay Anthony is to be held without bail.
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