GPD makes child exploitation arrest

Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers arrested a local man Friday on charges of child pornography and solicitation of a minor, according to a GPD press release. 

The GPD Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division and GPD SWAT executed a search warrant at 520 NW 4th Street, where they questioned and apprehended 24-year-old Kyle A. Rittenhouse. 

The GPD investigation came after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received two cyber tips that a Snapchat user had uploaded and shared child sexual abuse material. 

“Subsequent to the Cyber Tip, detectives obtained lawful access to the account information and the files which were shared,” the GPD release said. “The files shared were determined to be child sexual abuse material of minor prepubescent children. Additionally, chats were uncovered where the suspect was soliciting nude images from minor girls and sending unsolicited nude images of himself.”

During questioning Friday, Rittenhouse admitted to owning the Snapchat account in question and possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material, GPD said. 

“A preliminary analysis of Rittenhouse’s cell-phone(s) revealed dozens of [child sexual abuse] images in his possession,” the GPD release said.

GPD detective Donna Montague took Rittenhouse into custody. He faces 10 counts of possession of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of solicitation of a minor and one count of transmission of harmful material to minors.

“The Gainesville Police Department wants parents to be aware that children are being solicited and exploited through social networking applications,” the GPD release said. “These social networking applications are also used to share images and videos which depict young children being sexually abused. Please be vigilant and aware of any social networking platforms your children may access.”

The arrest came on the same day a Wisconsin teen with the same name made national headlines. A 12-person jury acquitted 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of murder charges on Friday, but he is not the same person as the 24-year-old Gainesville man arrested on child porn charges.