A San Antonio man is behind bars after a series of CyberTipline reports, tied to a Kik messaging account, allegedly led investigators to dozens of files of suspected child sexual abuse material.
Police arrested 32-year-old Mirko Peter Kerkez this week and charged him with possession and promotion of child sexual abuse material, after investigators say online activity linked to him included dozens of files and messages that also pressed for more material involving minors. Kerkez was booked into the Bexar County Jail, and authorities say the case is still unfolding.
How investigators say the case began
San Antonio police say Kerkez was arrested and charged with possession and promotion of child pornography, according to News 4 San Antonio. The outlet reports that three CyberTipline reports, submitted between December 2024 and April 2025, pointed to a Kik account using the username "rob85433" and documented dozens of files believed to be child sexual abuse material.
Investigators say those uploads were all traced to the same IP address, which led them to a residence on Cicero Drive. Subpoenaed Google records and information from the internet provider were later linked to Kerkez by name, according to the same report.
Evidence seized
Search warrants executed in November 2025 turned up at least 46 additional files and chat logs that investigators described as "graphic and explicit," News 4 San Antonio reports. The station notes that Google records included photos that matched the suspect, and that images shared through the Kik account showed tattoos investigators matched to known photos of Kerkez.
According to those documents, messages tied to the Kik account not only shared material but also sought more, including explicit requests involving minors. Records cited in the report also show Kerkez had a pending online solicitation charge in Bexar County while the investigation was underway.
What the law says
Under Texas law, possessing or promoting child pornography is a crime that prosecutors often use to pursue online exploitation cases. The relevant statute is set out in Texas Penal Code Section 43.26, which governs offenses involving visual material that depicts the sexual exploitation of children.
Many of these offenses fall into the third-degree felony range. Under Texas Penal Code Chapter 12, that typically means a potential sentence of roughly two to ten years in prison and fines up to $10,000, depending on how a judge or jury ultimately scores the case.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children runs the CyberTipline, which channels reports from electronic service providers and members of the public to law enforcement. In this case, investigators say those online reports were the starting gun for a months-long digital paper trail.
What's next
Kerkez currently faces state charges of possession and promotion of child pornography and could see additional counts added as investigators finish processing electronic evidence and turn it over to prosecutors. Local authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and upcoming court filings in Bexar County will show whether more charges land on the docket.
