/

Mountain View man arrested after explicit chats with minors

1 min read

A man was arrested after allegedly exchanging sexual photos with minors. 

According to the Mountain View Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip concerning child sexual abuse material, also known as CSAM. 

An investigation was launched and cyber detectives connected CSAM to 26-year-old Artiz Banuelos of Mountain View. 

The investigation revealed thousands of CSAM images and over a hundred chats with minors from Banuelos’ social media. 

The chats contain requests for inappropriate images, videos, and in-person meetings. 

On Tuesday, Banuelos was arrested in Best Buy, Mountain View, where he works. He was booked at Santa Clara County Main Jail on felony possession of child pornography, solicitation of a minor to commit a sex crime, and arranging a meeting with a minor to commit lewd acts.

Police are asking any potential victims or those who may know more about this case to contact Pablo Donato at pablo.donato@mountainview.gov.