Vernal Man Arrested For Possessing Child Pornography

Posted by Travis Uresk | Jan. 15th, 2023 | Child Pornography |

By Travis Uresk

1/15/23

Vernal, Ut.- On January 3, 2023, Detective Collom was assigned to follow up on a case for the Utah Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. This case was initiated by a follow-up with Utah Adult Probation and Parole with probationer 32-year-old Tyler Jesse Richards.

During this follow-up at 675 South Vernal Avenue in Vernal, Utah, it was found Tyler Richards possessed pornography on his cell phone, which was in violation of his probation. Due to some of the searches found on the phone, AP&P Agents asked Tyler if there was any pornography on his devices that would be related to children.

Tyler responded by telling the agents possibly, then began shaking and would not make eye contact with the agents. Agents seized several electronic devices, including his cell phone, where the initial pornography was located.

Detectives with the Vernal City Police Department responded to the scene and took possession of these devices, and booked them into evidence at the Vernal City Police Department.

On January 4, 2023, Detective Collom applied for and was granted a search warrant for Tyler's electronic devices that were seized, and forensic exams of these devices were started.

A forensic exam and physical viewing of Tyler’s cellphone were done upon reviewing these photos and videos on January 10, 2023. Located in the social media app, Kik were several conversations about this investigation between the dates of 10-16-22 and 11-29-22.

These conversations involved Tyler Richards soliciting pornography from individuals selling the images. In speaking with the individuals selling images, Tyler Richards asks specifically from different people ages 14-17.

Messages are summarized as follows:

In a conversation with Natalia Morgan, Tyler is asked the age range he wants, and he asks for 14 up. Tyler is arranged to pay $50 in bitcoin for the drop box. A video of a nude juvenile female is sent to Tyler as proof. The age of this juvenile appears to be approximately 12-14 years old.

In a conversation with Sasha King, Tyler is given pricing options for nudes and videos involving different age ranges from 6 to 18. Tyler agrees on the 14-18 age range and is provided a video of a nude juvenile female, approximately 12-14 years old, engaging in sex with a male. Tyler also receives an apparent link with a collage of multiple apparent videos of child pornography after payment has apparently been sent.

In a conversation with Mai34555 Blade, Tyler asks for a preview and is provided an image of a young female engaging in sex, followed by a video of a female, approximately 10-12 years old, performing fellatio on a male. Tyler asks for older and is sent a video of a female, approximately 10-12 years old, performing fellatio on a male. Tyler asks for 14-17 and is sent a video of a female, about 12-14 years old, engaging in apparent sex with a male. Tyler again asks for older and is sent a video of a female, who the sender states are 15 years old and appear to be that age, engaging in sex with a male. Arrangements are then made for Tyler to pay for a link.

In a conversation with Catherine Kroft, Tyler states he is looking for girls and asks if the person has any older? Catherine Kroft says they have a 16GB mega file containing 1,020 pics and 460 videos. Tyler asks for a preview and is sent an image of an apparent juvenile female, approximately 14 years old, exposing her bare breasts to the camera.

In a conversation with Jane Kay, she tells Tyler Hello from Whisper and asks If he is interested, and Tyler asks for a preview. Tyler is sent an image of a juvenile female, approximately 13 years old, pulling her shirt down to expose her bare breast to the camera.

In a conversation with Molee Stone, Tyler asks Got any 14-17 years old? Tyler is sent two videos, one of a juvenile female that looks to be approximately 12-14 years old engaging in sex with a male. The second video is of a young female exposing only the female's naked lower half, but from the body type appears too in her early teen's age.

In a conversation with Luna Mark, Tyler is asked if he is interested, and he asks for a Preview. Tyler is sent a video of a nude juvenile female, approximately 10 years old or younger, bent over and having sex with a male. Tyler asks Is there older, and the sender says they have older and younger links. Tyler says he only wants older. Tyler is sent a video of a juvenile female, approximately 14-16 years old, engaging in sex with a male. Tyler is sent a link containing multiple mp4 files of apparent child pornography.

After an initial viewing of Tyler Richards' cell phone, Detective Collom was able to locate twelve unique images with twelve juvenile females that were child pornography. With this information, Detective Collom booked Tyler Richards into the Uintah County Jail on twelve counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Tyler Richards is on Felony Probation with Utah AP&P for online solicitation of a minor and unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Criminal History below: