Police Arrest Man Wanted For Detroit Sex Assaults, Widely-Shared Child Porn
MILLBROOK, Ala. (WWJ/AP) - An Alabama man has been taken into custody in connection with a child pornography video that went viral last week involving a young girl from Detroit.
WSFA-TV reported that 44-year-old Germaine Moore turned himself in to Millbrook police around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. He is charged with sexual assault of a child, distribution of video depicting the assault and first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
State Bureau of Investigation Lt. Brooke Walker said Moore's fiancée was arrested Monday night and is not cooperating.
Moore is also wanted on charges in Detroit, where prosecutors allege that he sexually assaulted three young family members. According to Wayne County prosecutors, Moore is the uncle of the nine, ten and 12-year-old girls who were abused over a six-year period that ended last year. The children were left in his care while their mother was working.
In Detroit, Moore is charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct, using a computer to commit a crime and distribution child sexually abusive material. In Alabama, Crime Stoppers executive director Tony Garrett tells Al.com that more charges are expected in that state as well.
Meanwhile, the video still circulating on Facebook and other social media as far as Colorado and France shows a young girl performing oral sex on an adult, authorities said; and Detroit Police Chief James Craig confirmed that the child in the video is one of the young victims in this case.
Police in Montgomery, Alabama charged 42-year-old Jerrell Washington with distributing the video.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Chief Craig warned that anyone who shares the video — even in outrage — can be charged as well.
"In this case most people...began to circulate it with the sole purpose of identifying the perpetrator and the victims," the chief said. "Again, don't do that, because certainly you can be charged with distribution of child porn."
Craig said that anyone who sees child pornography being shared online should never share it, and immediately contact the authorities.
Meanwhile, an investigation into this case is ongoing.
"In my years of experience in dealing with the types of cases, even though we're looking at these three victims, I believe we will probably find that there are additional victims," Craig said.
The chief said that anyone who had contact with Moore and may have information about additional victims should call Detroit police at 313-267-4600
© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
