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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Online Sexual Exploitation of Maine Child
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to coercing and enticing a 13-year-old child in Maine to produce and send him sexually explicit images and videos, according to a federal court record.
Juan Jose Torres, 26, used social media platforms Snapchat and Instagram to communicate with the child, sending them explicit images of himself and pressuring them to do the same. When the child refused, Torres became angry and threatened to harm himself.
The child’s father discovered disturbing messages on Instagram and notified the local police department in Maine, which launched an investigation. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) later discovered numerous sexually explicit images and videos on Torres’ phone in Texas.
Torres faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000 and five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI investigated the case, which is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported a 300% increase in online enticement reports between 2020 and 2023.
Online enticement involves an individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This type of victimization takes place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms.
Community members can learn more about online enticement and how to stay safe online through the Project iGuardian program, which provides education and awareness about online predators and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. In Maine, the 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline is available at 1-800-871-7741 for those who have been sexually assaulted or abused.
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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