Tahlequah man convicted of aggravated possession of child pornography

Jurors found a Tahlequah man guilty of aggravated possession of child pornography in Cherokee County District Court Wednesday, Jan. 15.

According to an affidavit, a cyber tip from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crimes Against Children unit alleged that a Kik Messenger user sent three videos which contained apparent child sexual abuse material. The videos were sent between July 8, 2023 and July 28, 2023.

A search warrant was obtained for the Kik account and the messaging application returned 83 additional files containing child sexual abuse material.

The IP address returned to a woman and authorities discovered she was residing with Erick J. Caceres, 29. A search warrant for the residence was conducted and the pair's cellular devices were seized. The affidavit stated no child sexual abuse material was found on the woman's phone.

Caceres asked for an attorney and he was arrested for possession of child pornography.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Robison asked Caceres for the passcode to his phone after presenting him with a search warrant. Caceres advised he wanted to speak with Robison without an attorney present.

"Erick stated he had downloaded an application to his phone that was a 'vault app' to keep pictures in. He stated he deleted the app long ago, but the app continues to download photos he had stored in the vault to his phone. He stated some of the pictures were of young women from when he was a teenager," Robison stated in the affidavit.

On Nov. 17, 2023, Caceres was charged and he pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance. The jury trial began Monday, Jan. 13 and concluded Wednesday, Jan. 15. Caceres was found guilty and a sentencing hearing is slated for March 6, 2025.

District 27 District Attorney Jack Thorp said jurors had to "endure seeing the worst of the worst that happens to our children."

"They had to view over 100 videos and images located on the defendant's phone. They responded by finding the defendant guilty and recommending a life sentence," Thorp said.

This is a conviction.