Hearing reset for Desert Hot Springs man allegedly caught with child porn
Update: 7/2/2026 : A 35-year-old Desert Hot Springs man accused of possessing hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material and attempting to meet minors in person remained behind bars Thursday after a judge postponed a hearing on a request to reduce his bail.
Ian Whitney was arrested on June 16 in Desert Hot Springs after an extensive investigation conducted by Desert Hot Springs Police Department detectives assigned to the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team.
At the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Superior Court Judge Dean Benjamini had been set to hear a defense motion for bail reduction, but Whitney's public defender asked for a delay in the hearing, so the judge rescheduled it to July 22. It was unclear why the matter wasn't heard.
Whitney remains held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)- A 35-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to various child sexual abuse charges after being arrested earlier this month in Desert Hot Springs.
Ian Whitney was arrested on June 16 in Desert Hot Springs after an extensive investigation conducted by Desert Hot Springs Police Department detectives assigned to the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team.
According to DHSPD, Detectives began investigating Whitney after receiving information that he was allegedly in possession of and distributing child sexual abuse material online. Police alleged Whitney was in "possession of more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material," all of which was seized.
The defendant's alleged efforts to meet up with minors were documented during his online activity, investigators said.
The basis for the indecent exposure count was unclear.
DHSPD released a video of Whitney's arrest on its social media page on Tuesday.
Whitney was charged with Possess Matter of Minor in Sexual Act, Arranged Meeting w/Minor, two counts of Contact Minor w/Intent Commit Specific Crimes, and Indecent Exposure to Minor, court records show. There is also an additional enhancement of Possess Matter with Images Involving Minor Under 12 Years, and an aggravating factor of taking advantage of a position of trust.
Court records also show that the charges for crimes range from 2009 to May 2026.
Whitney pleaded not guilty to all the charges at his arraignment on June 18.
His public defender submitted a motion to Superior Court Judge Dean Benjamini asking for a bail review hearing to determine whether the defendant might qualify for a reduction. The hearing is slated for Thursday morning.
Whitney remains in custody at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.
