A 42-year-old Tennessee man was arrested after allegedly using social media, threats and sexual demands to exploit a juvenile victim, according to California authorities.
Christopher Fancher, 42, of Tennessee, was identified as a suspect during an investigation into child sextortion, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives allege the defendant communicated with a juvenile victim through social media and demanded nude images from the child, police said.
Receiving those initial images was not the end of the interactions, investigators said. After obtaining images from the victim, Fancher allegedly threatened to tell the child’s mother unless the juvenile provided additional material, authorities said.
The suspect’s alleged demands escalated to requesting that the victim record and send videos involving sexual acts, investigators said.
Authorities also allege Fancher sent the juvenile gift cards during their communications, police said. Those gifts allegedly included presents for occasions such as the child’s birthday, according to investigators.
Detectives continued investigating the communications, authorities said. As the inquiry broadened, additional alleged victims were identified, investigators said.
One of those additional victims allegedly met Fancher at a hotel in Placer County, according to authorities.
Investigators eventually obtained a warrant for the suspect’s arrest, the sheriff’s office said.
Placer County detectives coordinated with the Sparta Police Department in Tennessee to locate Fancher, authorities said.
On August 11, officers took the defendant into custody, police said.
Fancher faces criminal charges including possession of child sexual abuse material and attempted extortion, authorities said.
The suspect was also charged with four counts of communicating for lewd acts, police said. In addition, the defendant faces a charge of furnishing marijuana, according to authorities.
The case highlights a disturbing mechanism alleged in child sextortion investigations, authorities said. Compromising material is allegedly obtained and then used as leverage to pressure a child into producing increasingly explicit content, according to investigators.
Fancher has been charged, not convicted, officials noted.
The allegations against the defendant have not been proven in court, authorities said. Fancher is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, police said.
The suspect was booked into the White County Jail in Tennessee following his arrest, according to officials.
Fancher is being held at the White County Jail while awaiting extradition to Placer County, California, authorities said.
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