71-year-old Racine man arrested on 15 counts of child pornography

RACINE, Wisconsin – While searching the home of a 71-year-old Racine man, local authorities found enough evidence to justify 17 charges, including 15 counts of possession of child pornography.

As Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling confirmed in a statement, the investigation began in May of this year but did not result in an arrest until Monday, July 22, 2024. Authorities obtained a search warrant that allowed them to enter the home of Robert J. Castaneda, where they allegedly recovered more than 10,000 images and videos depicting child sexual assault (CSAM).

The investigation was led by the sheriff’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit and was based on tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Computer analysts from the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Criminal Investigation Division also assisted.

“This case highlights the critical role of cyber tips and interagency cooperation in investigating perverts who use the internet to exploit countless real children,” said Sheriff Schmaling. “The arrest of Castaneda and the seizure of his disgusting collection of disgusting material underscores the importance of specialized ICAC units dedicated to protecting children and bringing offenders to justice.”

The suspect also faced two additional charges: possession of obscene material depicting a person engaging in sexual activity with an animal and possession of THC.

This is a breaking news story. An update or sequel will be posted as more details become available.

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