A California man has been arrested and is believed to have groomed at least 80 children and used them to create child pornography.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said they launched an investigation in December 2021 following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an online account that was befriending children, usually between 6 and 13 years old.
The office identified the suspect as Demetrius Carl Davis, 24, and said he posed as a 11-year-old girl named Lizzy through multiple social media accounts.
Search warrants uncovered multiple cell phones used and numerous videos and images depicting child porn.
“At that time, we did not have enough evidence to arrest him on site, but we took all those electronics,” Sgt. Rod Grassmann said. “Over the last several months, we have forensically analyzed all of those and have identified 80 different victims and an additional 15 to 20 internationally, which we have not identified yet.”
The sheriff’s office said they believe Davis contacted with more than 100 children in multiple states and even other countries.
Davis allegedly befriended children he met online, engaging in “sexually explicit langauge.” He also sent child pornography to them and direct them to make pornographic videos, often with siblings.
The incidents took place between late 2020 and late 2021. Davis has been charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to KXTV.
The sheriff’s office urged parents to contact them if their children have had any communication with a child named Lizzy on the internet.
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[Featured image: Arrest of Demetrius Carl Davis/Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office]