IDAHO FALLS — A man from Idaho Falls was charged after allegedly having child pornography after a cybertip led police to search his home and arrest him.
Joel Clarke, 23, was charged with two felony counts of distribution of child pornography, as well as seven felony counts of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Clarke used email accounts to access, share and upload files containing child pornography. Investigators found seven images and three videos on his personal devices.
The documents state that the children involved were boys ages 12 to 14.
Dropbox and Snapchat Inc. submitted cybertips regarding multiple connected users to the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. On May 28, Idaho Falls Police served a search warrant, where they detained and transported Clarke to the Idaho Falls Police Department for questioning.
Court documents state Clarke admitted to being the owner of the Snapchat and Dropbox accounts but said that he obtained child pornography instead of adult pornography by mistake. Clarke also admitted to being the owner of the devices where the child pornography was found.
If convicted, Clarke could face up to 90 years in prison and $90,000 in fines.
Clarke will have a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Kent Gauchay on Friday at 1 p.m.
Though Clarke has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.
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