A US man has been charged with sexually abusing three girls after an online video of him allegedly forcing a sex act on a child went viral, police say.<\/p>\n
The video had been widely shared online by outraged social media users as far away as France in what police say was a misguided attempt to locate the man.<\/p>\n
Police in several states have warned the public that having possession or sharing the video is a serious crime.<\/p>\n
Another man has been arrested for sharing the video online.<\/p>\n
Authorities said while most people who shared the video probably had “good intentions”, they still committed a crime.<\/p>\n
“To have it blasted over social media – it shocks the conscience,” said Madison County Chief Trial Attorney Tim Gann.<\/p>\n
“You’re disseminating child porn and that’s a felony… It’s an awful thought that people can’t understand that that’s wrong,” he said, adding that victims also may be re-traumatised as more people see the crime.<\/p>\n
Germaine Moore, 44, turned himself in to a police station outside Montgomery, Alabama early on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He faces charges in Alabama and Michigan related to sexually abusing three female relatives, who authorities said are now between the ages of 9 and 12.<\/p>\n
Police said he will probably be extradited to Michigan, where he is originally from, to face charges.<\/p>\n
Authorities also arrested his fiance, Tonya Hardy, for not co-operating with investigators and refusing to reveal Mr Moore’s location as they searched his house, according to local media reports.<\/p>\n
In an effort to halt the video from spreading online, police in several states have informed the public that an arrest has been made.<\/p>\n
Colorado Springs police said that since the video was posted on Facebook<\/a> on 31 January, it has been shared across several social media platforms”.<\/p>\n “The minor was located and is safe,” police said, adding that Alabama law enforcement is now investigating the case.<\/p>\n Police have also arrested a man, who police say was not involved in creating the video, for sharing it online.<\/p>\n Montgomery Police arrested Jerrell Washington, 42, for possession and dissemination of child pornography.<\/p>\n Facebook also said that no matter the intention, users should never share child pornography.<\/p>\n “Sharing any kind of child exploitative imagery using Facebook or Messenger is not acceptable – even to express outrage,” Facebook spokeswoman Ruchika Budhraja said in a statement.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"