Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Charges of sexual exploitation against children filed in LL

Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; cgarcia@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas A Los Lunas man is in jail on charges including sexual exploitation of children after police found what they believe was a large amount of child pornography in his home.

A Valencia County grand jury has indicted 42-year-old Joel Large on three counts of sexual exploitation of children (manufacturing), three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aggravated stalking, trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Large, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is being held in the Valencia County Adult Detention Center on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.

According to a criminal complaint, Los Lunas Police officers served a search warrant at Large's home, located on the 100 block of Gensen, on Oct. 21. Los Lunas Assistant Police Chief David Gurule said officers initially became involved in the case after several juveniles reported allegations of being threatened and stalked.

Large, who initially told police when they arrived at his house that there was no child pornography in his home, was arrested after police found a photographs and videos depicting children, both boys and girls, as young as under 13 years old in explicit situations. The criminal complaint said that two computer discs containing the pornography were found in a blue lunch box inside Large's home.

During an interview with police later that day, according to the complaint, Large said he gave three boys cigarettes and provided them with alcohol, which he said they drank at his house.

Police also found several small bags of what they allege was methamphetamine and a variety of drug paraphernalia including pipes, hypodermic needles and a scale.

Large also told officers during his interview that he would record different officers from the police radio scanner for entertainment, the criminal complaint said.

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