Salina Man Accused of Filming Young Girls

WICHITA, KAN. – A Salina man is facing a potential lifetime behind bars after being indicted on charges of sickening crimes against children. A federal grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday, accusing Michael N. Rodenbeek, 53, of Salina, Kan., of producing and distributing child pornography.

Rodenbeek is charged with three counts of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, one count of possessing child pornography, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The alleged offenses took place between June and September of 2016 in both Saline and Sedgwick counties. If convicted on the production charges alone, Rodenbeek faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years per count.

According to court documents, a Wichita police detective stumbled upon the depravity while monitoring a file sharing network. Investigators allege they downloaded child pornography originating from Rodenbeek’s computer. The indictment details particularly disturbing allegations: that on June 18, 2016, Rodenbeek used an iPhone to record a 9-year-old girl, and again on July 19, 2016, he did the same to a 10-year-old girl. The details are harrowing and paint a picture of calculated exploitation.

The potential penalties are substantial. Distribution of child pornography carries a sentence of not less than five years and not more than 20 years. Possession of the material could bring up to 20 years in prison. And the firearm charge, stemming from a prior felony conviction, adds another potential ten-year sentence. This isn’t a slap on the wrist; it’s a serious federal case with potentially devastating consequences for the accused.

Rodenbeek isn’t the only one facing federal charges. Brett Nolan Cico, 31, of St. Francis, Kan., is charged with two counts of producing child pornography and two counts of committing a felony involving a minor while already a registered sex offender. He allegedly took pictures of a 14-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy on January 15, 2016, in Sherman County. He faces a minimum of 15-30 years per production charge, with the other counts to be served consecutively.

Beyond these horrific sex crimes, the federal dragnet also snagged several others. Kevin Michael Hamill, 28, of Wichita, Kan., is accused of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, facing 5-40 years and up to a $2 million fine. James Ray Lawson, 54, of Louisville, Ky., faces 10 years and a $4 million fine for similar methamphetamine charges in Ellis County. Three Mexican nationals – Arturo Rodriguez-Martinez, 53, Jose Manuel Arriaga-Guillen, 24, and Gabriel Lemus-Miranda, 36 – were charged with unlawful reentry after deportation, each facing up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The investigations were conducted by the Wichita Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Kingman Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hart and Kimberley Rodebaugh are prosecuting the cases.

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