In Gran Canaria
Arrested a professional photographer who allegedly cheated and photographed 43 minor victims to create child pornographic content
The detainee offered on the Internet an “artistic collaboration” consisting of a free photo book, such as that made to professional models, and which was made in a garage that served as a studio
The parents of the minors signed a contract that included a clause stating that no photos of the naked girls would be taken
The minors, who were between 14 and 18 years old, were not only photographed naked but also with attire, in poses or using explicitly sexual plans, which in no way can be understood as artistic
The agents located abundant photographic material in their home, being intervened several devices – those that contained sexual images – hidden in a double bed bottom
September 18, 2019 National Police agents have arrested a professional photographer in Gran Canaria who allegedly cheated and photographed 43 minor victims to create child pornographic content. The detainee offered on the Internet an “artistic collaboration” consisting of a free photo book like the one done to professional models, a report that was carried out in a garage that served as a studio. The parents of the children signed a contract that included a clause stating that no photos of the naked girls would be taken. The minors, who were between 14 and 18 years old, were not only photographed naked but also with attire, in poses, or using explicitly sexual plans, which in no way can be understood as artistic.
He offered free photo books and cheated parents by signing contracts that were not fulfilled
The investigation began in February 2018 with the complaint of one of the victims and their mother. Both said that the detainee had photographed the naked child in his professional study without parental consent and that, in addition, he had refused to hand over said photographs, stating the complainants that more girls had suffered similar events. Once the facts were verified, the agents arrested the photographer – a 52-year-old man from Gran Canaria – and searched his home where multiple external hard drives and a large amount of documentary material intervened, locating the devices that contained the hidden sexual images in a double bottom located in the bed of a bedroom.
The agents found that the researcher offered, on the same professional website in which he announced his ordinary services, a free “non-profit” artistic collaboration, which consisted of a complete report in exchange for delivering several photographs. This attractive offer made many children go to a garage, located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which used to study a book as if they were professional models.
Once in the study, the parents signed a contract with the characteristics of the service that included a clause stating that no photos of the naked girls would be taken. However, they were not allowed to be present during the session in order to, supposedly, not inhibit the girls.
He photographed his victims, aged 14 to 18, naked or with explicitly sexual clothes and poses
The alleged author of the events began the session with multiple photos and with different costumes and, little by little, he asked them to take off their clothes. The girls were convinced with the need to undress for their possible modeling career, to which many girls aspired, or claiming that the nude was an artistic issue that was unimportant. In this way, the researcher obtained photos of the naked girls and with clothes, poses or using explicitly sexual plans that in no way can be understood as artistic.
The parents never got to know what happened because the photos they received in exchange for the alleged artistic collaboration were not suggestive or included nudes, but studio photos. In addition, none of the minors told their parents what happened since, in most cases, they were not aware of having been deceived and victims of a crime. Likewise, the girls who expressly requested that these photos be delivered were never received.
The investigation has been prolonged due to the large amount of photographic material that has been the subject of study, although the finding of the contracts of the “artistic collaboration” service was key for the comparison of data and photographs and the subsequent identification and location of 43 minor victims.