Teenagers arrested for allegedly distributing child porn

Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) carried out two early-morning raids last Friday and arrested two minors for allegedly distributing child pornography in Santa Ana, southwest of the capital. Agents arrested a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. The names of the suspects were not released because of their ages.

The OIJ said the two suspects allegedly uploaded nude and semi-nude photos of a 14-year-old classmate to the Internet. Interpol Spain alerted Costa Rican authorities that a website frequented by pedophiles had images of the Costa Rican girl, according to a statement from the OIJ. Police seized three computers, cellphones and USB drives during the raids.

On Saturday, the teenagers appeared before a juvenile court judge who ordered them not to contact the victim during the investigation. They were released pending a trial.

Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Tatiana Vargas told The Tico Times in an email that the minors were under investigation for propagating pornography and coercion and corruption of a minor. Vargas said the judge has wide discretion under the Juvenile Penal Code to punish the suspects, and sentencing could range from zero to 15 years in prison if they are found guilty.

A court date has not yet been set.