By Gina Yarbrough
Riverside, CA–The Riverside County Child Exploitation Team is asking for the public’s help in identifying potential victims connected to a Banning man involved in a child exploitation case.
John Edward Lario, a 20-year-old resident of Banning, has been charged by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office with several serious offenses, including child exploitation of a victim under 10, committing lewd acts on a child under 14, using a minor for sexual conduct in the production of images or data, and inflicting unjustifiable physical or mental suffering on a minor.
If convicted, Lario could face life in prison. He is currently in custody with bail set at $1 million. A felony settlement conference is scheduled for December 4 at the Banning Justice Center.
The case began on September 2 when Homeland Security Investigations received a referral from New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs Digital Child Exploitation Team. The referral identified links to videos and images of child sexual abuse material originating from Riverside County, California. Homeland Security agents collaborated with local authorities, led by the DA’s office, to launch a joint investigation, which led to Lario’s arrest. A search warrant executed at his residence revealed the identity of an alleged victim, an 8-year-old boy.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about potential victims to contact the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team at their toll-free hotline, (866) 723-3595.
