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A man accused of taking cellphone pictures of himself having sex with a 2-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
Derek M. West remains in federal custody after agreeing to the government’s request for his detention without the opportunity for release on bond.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang set a trial date for February.
Officials with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations said in court records that a female reported to the Honolulu Police Department on Dec. 3 that she found child pornography images on West’s personal cellphone, including several of her 2-year-old relative. She told police that the adult male in the pictures is West.
Homeland Security said West attempted to contact the female through Facebook on Dec. 11 and stated in the message that he was sorry for what he did, that he knows he’s sick and is going to get help.
Honolulu police obtained a warrant to search West’s cellphone and on Monday found 482 images. Homeland Security also said the female positively identified her young relative and West in some of the pictures.
The FBI arrested West on Tuesday.
Homeland Security said after West signed a waiver, he told the FBI that he used his cellphone to search the Internet for child pornography.
According to Homeland Security, West also told the FBI he used his cellphone to take pictures of himself and the 2-year-old girl.
Homeland Security has a broad investigative mandate that includes cybercrimes, human rights violations and human exploitation.
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