A 22-year-old Las Vegas man is now in a Lafayette Parish jail after authorities say a tip about online child exploitation kicked off an investigation that crossed state lines and pulled in multiple agencies. Christian Jonathan Carnes was transported to Lafayette Parish on June 11 after waiving extradition and was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, according to officials. Investigators say the case began with a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and remains active.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s office says Carnes faces three counts of indecent behavior with juveniles, one count of criminal assistance to suicide, two counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor and one count of extortion. An arrest warrant for Carnes was issued May 20, and officials said the alleged victim did not die, according to KPLC.
Agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation located Carnes in Nevada with help from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, then booked him into the Clark County Detention Center before he waived extradition, 8 News Now reported. He was then transported to Lafayette Parish on June 11 to face the state charges.
Legal Status And Next Steps
Carnes was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center and no bond has been set, officials said. The attorney general’s office also told investigators there is an active federal arrest warrant connected to the same investigation and that there may be additional victims, and the probe remains ongoing, according to KPLC.
Sextortion, NCMEC And Resources
Officials say the case began after a tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an organization that has documented rising reports of online enticement and sextortion and operates the CyberTipline for reporting suspected child sexual exploitation. For resources and to report suspected online exploitation, NCMEC maintains guidance and a reporting portal at NCMEC.
Local authorities continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information to contact investigators, and court dates were not immediately available, according to 8 News Now.
