CYBER TIP LEADS TO ARREST OF SALEM MAN FOR ENCOURAGING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

 Marion Co. Sheriff's Office

Yesterday morning, February 2nd, 2021, detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 26-year-old Salem man for encouraging child sexual abuse following a 3-month investigation. The investigation started after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children were alerted to images of suspected child sexual abuse material being shared online and notified local authorities.  In coordination with the regional Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce, investigators were able to identify a suspect in the Salem area.

Early Tuesday morning detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit served a search warrant at an apartment on Stafford Lane NE in the Four Corners area of East Salem.   Refugio Cruz-Juarez, 26, of Salem was arrested at the apartment and taken to Marion County Jail where he was charged with the crimes of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree and Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree. 

Cruz-Juarez is set to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. today, February 3rd, at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex.