Corpus Christi Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 26-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been taken into custody on allegations he distributed child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Authorities arrested Clinton Ray Stephens this morning. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby at 2:00 p.m. today.

According to the charges, an electronic chat room company notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a known image of child pornography had been uploaded to an internet chat room identified as “UNderAg3.” The complaint alleges authorities were able to link the specific IP address associated with a user known as “Jake” to Stephens. Agents obtained a search warrant for Stephens’s residence, after which agents seized several digital devices that led to the discovery of more than 570 images and two videos of child pornography, according to the charges.  

If convicted, Stephens faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department’s – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of NCMEC.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.