Nevada man faces child porn charges

RENO, Nev. — A Carson City man appeared in federal court Thursday to face child pornography charges, following his arrest a day earlier by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Northern Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Marcus Gabriel Henderson, 33, is charged with production and attempted production of child pornography, involving the defendant's secretly videotaping female victims in the bathrooms of his home.

While executing a federal search warrant at Henderson's residence Wednesday, HSI special agents discovered a covert video recording device and digital media card hidden inside an AC adapter box. Examination of the media card revealed approximately 277 video clips that appeared to have been taken in the toilet and shower areas of one or more bathrooms – with the camera positioned to capture nude images of two different female victims, one of whom was 13 years old at the time. The purpose of the videos was to create a sexual response for the viewer, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.

If convicted, Henderson faces 15 to 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

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, 1-800-843-5678.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.