Man charged in child sexual exploitation case
CHLOE COCHRAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months AGO
(Photo by ANNISA KEITH)
SANDPOINT — A Bonner County resident charged with four felonies is set to be arraigned Thursday for charges relating to an early July incident.
Christopher Van Essen has been charged with four counts of possessing child sexually exploitative material via the internet.
If found guilty of the allegations, Van Essen could face up to 120 years in prison and a $200,000 fine, if the charges were run consecutively. If the alleged charges were run concurrently, the maximum penalty he could face is 30 years in prison.
A probable cause affidavit states that police officials became aware of the alleged crime after receiving a call from Walmart about an erotic image that had been printed at one of their photo stations.
Through investigative measures, officials were able to identify Van Essen as the man who printed the photo of a group of naked prepubescent children.
When questioned about the images, Van Essen told officials that he obtained the images via an online website that photographed individuals naked while doing mundane, everyday things.
Van Essen allegedly told police officials that “what he thought” when looking at the images was “only in his mind” and that he “never does anything in real life.”
A search through Van Essen’s phone showed hundreds of downloaded pictures, several of which allegedly included erotic file names.
Van Essen is set to be arraigned Thursday, Sept. 11.
He is expected to appear in person after posting a $55,000 bond.
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