3 Mississippi men posing as 15-year-old boy led to child porn arrest, Kenner police say

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Police responding to a possible break-in at a Kenner home encountered three internet vigilantes who claimed they were there to confront a man who arranged to have a sexual encounter while they were posing as a 15-year-old boy online, according to authorities.
The man, later identified as Byron Espinoza Pauta, 39, of Kenner, wasn't arrested in connection with the alleged sexting. But he appeared in Jefferson Parish Magistrate Court on Wednesday on charges that police found child pornography in his cellphone while conducting the investigation.
Kenner Police Detective Emile Sanchez testified about the case, which was opened Oct. 4 when officers were dispatched to an apartment on Clemson Drive.

A woman called 911 and reported that three men were outside the home attempting to break in, Sanchez said. Police arrived and spoke with three unidentified adult men.
The men told officers they'd set up an account on an online dating app and exchanged messages with Espinoza about sex, according to Sanchez.
"They did so posing as a 15-year-old male and made [their age] clear to him in the text messages," he said.
The men told Espinoza that the boy were 15 and asked if he minded, according to Sanchez. When Espinoza ignored the question, they restated their age and Espinoza responded, "Yes, I do mind," but continued the conversation anyway, Sanchez testified.

The exchange included requests for sexual activities. Espinoza provided his name, his address on Clemson Drive and a photograph, Sanchez said.
The trio told authorities their sole purpose was to record the confrontation and expose Espinoza on the internet, according to Capt. Michael Cunningham, spokesperson for the Kenner police.
Police knocked on the apartment door and spoke with the occupants, one of whom was Espinoza, according to authorities. He admitted communicating but denied knowing the person was underage, Sanchez testified.
Officers took Espinoza's cellphone as part of the investigation and obtained a warrant to search the device. Detectives located "numerous pornographic images deemed to be indicative of child pornography," including toddlers in lewd positions, Sanchez said.

Police obtained a warrant for Espinoza's arrest on one count of possession of pornography involving juveniles. He was taken into custody on Oct. 11.
Espinoza's attorney, Ivan Orihuela, argued that police didn't have the right to search his client's cellphone.
But Jefferson Parish Criminal Commissioner Paul Schneider ruled there was probable cause to continue holding Espinoza on the charge and denied a motion to reduce his $40,000 bail amount.
The three men who tried to confront Espinoza provided inaccurate contact information. But authorities now know they are from Mississippi, according to Cunningham.

The men were not working with the Kenner Police Department or any other law enforcement agency, he said.
"We appreciate their efforts to protect children from online predators however, the manner in which they confront these predators can be dangerous, and they should coordinate with local law enforcement before proceeding with such," Cunningham said.