East Rockingham man jailed on 27 child porn charges

ROCKINGHAM — A man is being held in the Richmond County Jail on more than 25 child-pornography related charges.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday arrested 27-year-old Roberto Ruiz, of Hannah Pickett Avenue.

Ruiz, whose mug shot was not available, is charged with 26 counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree exploitation of a minor.

According to state law, the charge of second-degree exploitation involves the defendant:

• Recording, photographing, filming, developing, or duplicating material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity; or
• Distributing, transporting, exhibiting, receiving, selling, purchasing, exchanging, or soliciting material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity.

An individual can also be charged if the “participant in sexual activity whom material through its title, text, visual representations or otherwise represents or depicts as a minor is a minor.”

Mistaking the participants age cannot be used as a defense under this charge.

The charge is a Class E felony, carrying a sentence of 15-31 months in prison.

The third-degree exploitation charge is for possession of material showing a child engaged in sexual activity.

According to investigators, Ruiz was in possession of both photos and video.

The investigation was a joint operation between the sheriff’s office and the FBI.

Ruiz is being held in the Richmond County Jail under a $1 million secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court May 22.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.