SANTA ANA, Calif. (KNX) — Santa Ana police announced Thursday they had arrested a 22-year-old man on allegations of downloading and trading thousands of images and videos of child pornography on the internet.
The investigation into Luis Pablo Anaya-Martin of Santa Ana began with an anonymous cyber tip, according to police.
Anaya-Martin was taken into custody on Nov. 10, following execution of 17 search warrants on his residence. Detectives seized multiple electronic devices from the home, which were found to contain material portraying the sexual abuse of minors, some of which was violent in nature and featured subjects younger than five years of age.
"He was found to be in possession of thousands of images and videos, including some with children as young as weeks old," Santa Ana police Cpl. Sonia Rojo told KNX 1070.
The suspect faces multiple counts including possession and control of child pornography, child pornography in excess of 600 images, matter portraying sexual sadism or sexual masochism of a minor, advertising child pornography, and distribution of child pornography.
It is believed Anaya-Martin was utilizing the dark web to exchange the image and video files with other users. The Santa Ana Police Department is working to forensically identify other suspects in the case.
Anaya-Martin was ordained as a minister in 2018, according to Rojo. It is unknown if he worked with any area churches. Police are asking families who may have had contact with Anaya-Martin to come forward.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Santa Ana detectives at (714) 245-8420.
