Detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday they arrested a man accused of possessing thousands of items related to child pornography.
Ridley Mellema, 19 , was taken into custody following an extensive investigation, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. Detectives discovered at least 24,000 images and videos on Mellema’s phone, officials said.
Mellema is being held in the Douglas County Detention Facility on $20,000 bail on suspicion of sexual exploitation of a child and internet sexual exploitation of a child.
Sheriff Darren Weekly said Tuesday in the release he was “proud of my team for their diligence in investigating these types of crimes.”
“This arrest sends a strong message that we will not tolerate those attempting to exploit children, whether over the internet or in person.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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