Ex-Marine wanted for child porn distribution
Authorities are asking for the public's help in locating an ex-Marine accused of sending and receiving child pornography while in Riverside County.
Eric Stiegelmeyer, 24, is wanted for alleged possession and transmission of child porn. A federal warrant was issued for his arrest earlier this year, according to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback.
Detectives learned Stiegelmeyer was sharing child pornography over the internet, while he was an active duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton.
Escondido police are also searching Stiegelmeyer. The department had an open investigation on him for the same type of criminal activity.
According to Riverside PD, Stiegelmeyer was discharged by the Marine Corps without notice to the investigators before a federal arrest warrant was obtained.
He was one of a half-dozen individuals in the Riverside metropolitan area who were investigated in 2019 by the SAFE task force. The other parties were arrested and are facing charges, Railsback said.
Anyone with information about Stiegelmeyer was urged to contact ICAC Unit Detective Charlie Olivas at colivas@riversideca.gov, ICAC Unit Detective Stacie Ontko at sontko@riversideca.gov, or ICAC Unit Detective Paul Miranda at pmiranda@riversideca.gov.
Railsback credited "cyber tips" from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children with identifying the alleged child porn offenders. Authorities stressed the importance of monitoring your children’s online activity.
"Parents and children are often unaware of the potential dangers that can be easily encountered on the internet and social media, so it is always beneficial to discuss these dangers with your children," reads a post by Riverside PD.
To read more information about internet safety for kids, click here.
