An undercover investigation by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force into the online sharing of child pornography resulted in the arrest of 35-year-old Cesar M. Rios Martinez of Laurel for 25 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography.

The investigation revealed that Martinez downloaded and shared multiple files of child pornography via the internet over an extended period of time. A search warrant was executed at Martinez’ residence on April 25, 2018 at which time detectives seized multiple electronic devices and other related evidence. A forensic preview of those devices revealed over 25 files of child pornography as defined by Delaware law. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed upon further examination.

At the time of his arrest, Martinez was employed as a Pastor at Iglesia El Espiritu Santo, 906 Eastern Shore Drive, Salisbury, MD. Any concerns about Martinez can be directed to the Child Predator Task Force at 302-739-2030.

Martinez was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and ordered held at the Sussex Correctional Institution on $250,000 secured bail.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

An investigation by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force into the online sharing of child pornography, resulted in the arrest of 45-year-old Robert Vasecka of Newark, for 25 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography.

A public internet chat room reported that one of its users uploaded suspected images of child pornography. The Child Predator Task Force sought subscriber information for the account, which came back to Robert Vasecka. After Vasecka’s arrest, a search of his cell phone revealed at least 25 images of child pornography as defined by Delaware law.

At the time of his arrest, Vasecka was employed as an officer with the New Castle County Division of Police. Vasecka is currently being held on $500,000 secured bail at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

An undercover investigation by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force into the online sharing of child pornography, resulted in the arrest of 50-year-old William M. Herkins, IV of Gwinhurst ,Wilmington, for 25 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography.

The investigation revealed that Herkins downloaded and shared multiple files of child pornography via the internet over an extended period of time. A search warrant was executed at Herkins’s residence on June 28, 2016 at which time detectives seized multiple electronic devices and other related evidence. A forensic preview of those devices revealed over 25 files of child pornography as defined by Delaware law. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed upon further examination.

At the time of his arrest, Herkins was employed as a teacher at Carrcroft Elementary School. Any concerns about Herkins can be directed to the Child Predator Task Force at 302-739-2030.

Herkins was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and ordered held at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $1,250,000 secured bail.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

An undercover investigation by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force into the solicitation of a minor for the purpose of engaging in prohibited sex acts, resulted in the arrest of 35-year-old Joshua Rutherford of Camden-Wyoming.

In mid-February, investigators say Rutherford began a chat conversation with an undercover investigator he believed was the father of a teenage girl on an online social media network. During these chat conversations, investigators say Rutherford expressed his interest in meeting the girl for sex, and also requested nude images.

On March 10, 2016, Rutherford arranged to meet the investigator at a park in Dover the next day, according to the task force. On Friday, March 11, 2016, the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, assisted by the Delaware State Police SORT team (Special Operations Response Team) arrested Rutherford. He was charged with one count of Sexual Solicitation of a child under 18 to engage in prohibited Sexual Act, and one count of Attempted Dealing in Child Pornography.

Search warrants were executed at Rutherford’s residence and on the vehicle that he was operating. As a result of the two search warrants, detectives seized a laptop computer, an external hard drive, numerous USB thumb drives and other related evidence. Additional charges will be based upon that examination.

At the time of his arrest, Rutherford was employed as a teacher at Smyrna High School, and members of the Child Predator Task Force ask anyone with information or concerns about Rutherford to call 302-739-2030.

Rutherford was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and ordered held at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on a $50,000.00 secured bail.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Two separate investigations by the Delaware Department of Justice’s Child Predator Task Force has resulted in the arrests of two men.

In the first case, an undercover investigation by the Child Predator Task Force led to the arrest of a Maryland man working as a martial arts instructor in Delaware under a false name in an apparent attempt to hide his identity as a registered sex offender.

On February 27, 37-year-old James Blankenship Jr., of Barclay, Maryland, was arrested after being extradited back to Delaware.

Late last year, the Task Force believes Blankenship began a chat conversation with an undercover investigator on a social network, then moved the conversation to texting. In ensuing conversations, the person being communicated with was told numerous times he was communicating with an underage boy, which he indicated that he was okay with.

An investigation into Blankenship revealed that he had a prior Maryland conviction in 2006 for sexual abuse of a minor, and was employed as a Maryland certified police officer at the time of that arrest. The investigation also revealed Blankenship was an active martial arts instructor in Delaware, using the alias name of Mark Hafer to avoid detection as a registered sex offender.

Blankenship was charged with two counts of sexual solicitation of a minor. He was arraigned and taken to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, held on $100,000.00 cash bail.

On March 10, the Child Predator Task Force, with the assistance of a Delaware State Trooper, executed a search warrant at 1223 Kynlyn Drive in Wilmington, related to an investigation into the distribution of child pornography on the Internet.

When the search warrant was executed, detectives found 29-year-old Samuel Diamond, who said he lived alone in the home, and owned all of the computers and electronic devices in the residence. Detectives recovered several computers, external hard drives, and other electronic media evidence, that during a forensic preview, showed more than 25 images/videos of child pornography.

Diamond was charged with 25 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography. He was arraigned and ordered held on a secure bond of $500,000.00 at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center pending further court action.