Kansas man indicted for producing child pornography, felon illegally possessing a firearm

WICHITA, Kan. — A central Kansas man was indicted in federal court Tuesday on multiple counts of producing and distributing child pornography, and illegally possessing a firearm.

This indictment resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children task force, and the Wichita Police Department.

Michael N. Rodenbeek, 53, of Salina, Kansas, 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 unlawfully possessing a firearm following a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred between June and September 2016, in the Kansas counties of Saline and Sedgwick.

A complaint filed in the case alleges a Wichita police detective accessed a file-sharing network to download child pornography from Rodenbeek’s computer. Investigators learned that on June 18, 2016, Rodenbeek used an iPhone to record a 9-year-old girl; on July 19, he used an iPhone to record a 10-year-old girl.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of 15 years to 30 years in federal prison on each count of production, five to 20 years on the distribution count, up to 20 years on the possession count, and up to 10 years on the firearm charge.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.