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.
You may be interested

Costa Rica tourism extension: Clarifications and details
Alejandro Zúñiga - March 3, 2021The Immigration Administration (DGME) has issued the decree formalizing the extension of tourism visas until June 1 for visitors who…

DIMEX required for vaccination, Costa Rica says
Alejandro Zúñiga - March 3, 2021Costa Rica began administering coronavirus vaccines in December 2020, and the country hopes to inoculate its entire adult population. We've…

Campaign to help families, businesses in Guanacaste
The Tico Times - March 3, 2021Costa Rican authorities this week relaunched a campaign to support businesses and provide meals to tourism employees who lost their…