NJ inmate possibly linked to DHS child porn ring

A teenage witness testified against John David Yoder in a preliminary hearing Tuesday, and said Yoder took him to a photoshoot in Orange County with a man named Philip Neri.

The boy said Yoder and Neri watched as William Thompson, another suspect, photographed the boy in his underwear.

News Channel 3 has learned Philip Neri is a convicted child predator, currently serving a 14-month sentence in New Jersey.

Yoder’s foster son, Cody Yoder, said he recognized him.

“That’s david’s cousin or something,” Cody said when we showed him Neri’s mugshot. Cody didn’t want to be interviewed further, but said he saw Neri a few years ago.

Amalia Delariba, who lives across the street from Yoder’s house, said she’s also seen Neri.

“Many mothers let the kids go out alone and it’s dangerous. You have to take care of the kids very much,” Delariba said.

We’re also learning of more children who say Yoder tried to get them to model.

We met a 12-year-old girl who didn’t recognize Neri, but said Yoder approached her just a few months ago at a local park.

“He comes up to me and starts talking about how he can make me famous,” she said. “He said my hair was really nice and he picked up my hands and started looking at them so I got really weirded out.”

Scared, the girl said she ran home immediately and no longer goes to the park alone.

“In desert hot springs it’s different, because random people could approach you and take you and really no one would care.”

An upcoming parent information session in Desert Hot Springs aims to educate families about child predators.

It’s hosted by Safehouse of the Desert and Christopher’s Clubhouse on Monday, March 2 from 5-7pm at the Desert Hot Springs Wellness Center. For more information click here:

http://www.kesq.com/news/event-to-educate-parents-about-child-predators-scheduled-in-