KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City-area man was arrested Wednesday, the same day he shared pornographic images over the internet that he had just taken of a 5-year-old child victim, was charged in federal court, according to the United State's Attorney's office.
Justin Swift, 35, Independence, Mo. was charged in a two-count criminal complaint with producing child pornography and with distributing child pornography over the internet. Swift, who was arrested on Tuesday, April 28, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Swift shared 11 images of child pornography on Tuesday, April 28, with another person using the Kik message application on his phone. Swift falsely claimed the child victim was his 5-year-old daughter, the affidavit says, and commented that he took the photos either the night before or a few minutes before distributing them.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Swift’s residence later on the same day. Swift, an unidentified woman, and four children – including the child victim – were present. Officers seized Swift’s phone, the affidavit says, which contained numerous sexually explicit images of the child victim, including the same photos Swift had previously distributed via the Kik application. Swift was placed under arrest.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
His first court hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.