Man Charged With 31 Felonies After Child Porn Allegedly Found On Phone
Feb 26, 2019, 10:42 AM | Updated: 10:48 am
Richard Michael Martin. Photo: Utah County Sheriff's Office
PROVO, Utah – The Utah County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday added 22 additional felony charges against a man they arrested Feb. 14 during a human trafficking sting.
Richard Michael Martin, 29, of Riverton, was originally arrested after he reportedly made contact with an undercover officer, whom he believed was a mother, with the intent of having sex with her pre-teen daughters, according to the sheriff’s office.
Detectives said he was in possession of extremely graphic child pornography that involved “very young children and infants.”
He was arrested on nine second-degree felony charges of enticing a minor by internet or text.
The sheriff’s office obtained a warrant for Martin’s phone, and allegedly discovered more images and videos of “prepubescent boys and girls, some aged 4-6 years old” and at least one video of an approximately 1-year-old boy who was reportedly tied to a table.
Human trafficking case in Utah County just got more disturbing. 22 additional felony charges added to one suspect. Videos, photos, and children as young as one year old. Charges include possessing and producing child pornography. https://t.co/QUuUYLaQPx pic.twitter.com/3Sccz4GCtM
— Spencer Cannon (@SGTCannonPIO) February 26, 2019
In a press release, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office issued graphic details of the content of the photos and videos.
Authorities tacked on the 22 additional second-degree felonies after the new evidence was discovered.
Martin was being held on $30,000 cash or bond before his phone was searched. That bail has since been increased to a total of $80,000 cash or bond.
