They coerced girls on Instagram, Snapchat to send sexually explicit images, police say
Investigators have arrested two people accused of using Instagram and Snapchat to coerce girls into giving them sexually explicit photos and video.
Officials with Patterson Police Services on Monday warned parents, saying these arrests are just another example of the kind of predators who target children on social media.
Patterson Police Detective Casey Cooper said investigators have identified nine girls, ages 12 to 17, who were victimized by the suspects on social media. He said there are other victims they have not yet identified.
Daniel Salazar, 24, of Modesto, and Rita Juarez Nunez, 47, of Los Banos were arrested at their homes Friday after investigators served search warrants.
Salazar faces federal charges of sexually exploiting a child and distributing sexually explicit material of a minor, according to Stanislaus County sheriff’s custody records. Cooper said Salazar’s charges indicate he will be handed over to federal authorities to face charges in federal court.
Nunez will face state charges in Stanislaus Superior Court. She was booked at the county jail on charges of possessing material depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct and child endangerment.
Salazar and Nunez remained in custody at the jail Monday afternoon. Their first appearances in court had not yet been scheduled.
Cooper said the investigation began when a Patterson police patrol officer responded to a report of a person who had obtained illicit images of a minor; the girl who had been victimized had come forward.
Investigators believe Salazar used Instagram and Snapchat to communicate with the girls before coercing them into giving him nude and sexually explicit photos and video, Cooper said. Then, Salazar would share the illicit images with Nunez online, according to the detective.
After obtaining the images of the girls, Cooper said the victims would then be blackmailed into providing more sexually explicit images. The detective characterized Salazar and Nunez as “associates.”
Cooper said Sheriff’s Department crime analysts, FBI, the Los Banos Police Department, the San Jose Police Department and state parole officials helped the Patterson investigators identify and find the suspects.
“Parents, please take the time and make the effort to know what your kids are doing online and who they are in contact with,” Patterson police officials said in a Facebook update announcing the arrests. “They may not like it, but there are predators out there looking to take advantage of children.”
This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 8:12 AM.