On Tuesday, detectives from the Atwater Police Department received information from the US Department of Homeland Security regarding an investigation occurring in Orange County regarding child pornography. Through this investigation, it was learned that Atwater resident Kirby Affholder was receiving and distributing child pornography.
A search warrant was obtained for Affholder residence. The search warrant was served with the assistance of agents from US Homeland Security, agents from the Central Valley Internet Crimes against Children task force and detectives from the Atwater Police Department.
During the search of Affholder’s residence agents initially discovered approximately fifty images of child pornography that Affholder had received and distributed through his computer. All the images were of young females under the age of 14. The computers found at his residence were seized under the search warrant and further investigations will be completed to determine if more images of child pornography are on the computer.
During questioning, the 52 year old Affholder admitted to receiving and sending the child pornography from his computer and admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong. He also admitted to using a fake screen name, posing as a female through emails and Facebook with the suspect in Orange County to receive the child pornography. Affholder described this as a “fantasy game” he was playing.
Affholder is currently registered as a sex offender and was convicted in 1991 of Lewd and Lascivious act with a child. Affholder was booked into the Merced County jail for distributing child pornography, sexual exploitation of a child and possession of images depicting minors engaged in sexual conduct. Further charges could be added against Affholder upon completion of the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to call Officer Dan Dabney at (209)385-7719, or the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at (209) 385-4725.
TXT 24
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