Child porn video investigation: Man held on $5M cash bond
ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. – An Alabama judge has set a $5 million cash bond for the man at the center of a viral child porn video.
It was a big arrest in Alabama of a suspected child predator taken into custody, but investigators in Elmore County Alabama are searching for more victims after they tracked down the man in a widely circulated child porn video.
A woman behind the door at Moore’s Millbrook home had little to say about the heinous crimes for which 44-year-old Jermaine Moore is accused.
“You need to go back to Atlanta because I don’t have anything to say,” said the woman behind the door to FOX 5’s George Franco.
Elmore County District Attorney Randall Houston said Moore is on a video which went viral on social media with a 6-year-old girl appearing to perform a sex act on him.
“These are the kind of cases where a 6-year-old child is being forced to engage in sexual activity that gives all of us parents nightmares,” said Houston.
He said it’s a multi-state investigation with victims in Alabama and three identified in Detroit where Moore used to live. Houston said the process is already underway to have Moore extradited to Detroit, but it’s unclear where Moore will ultimately face trial.
“Whoever has the best case, that’s where he’ll end up, most likely. It’s a little early to say, but that’s basically the process,” said Houston.
Alabama law enforcement executed a search warrant at Moore’s home in Millbrook Monday. Investigators said Moore’s wife Tanya Hardy Moore, who made a court appearance on Tuesday, concealed his whereabouts, leading to a charge of hindering prosecution. Moore later turned himself in to authorities.
Neighbors told FOX 5 News Moore and several others, including young children, have lived at the home for a year, but were rarely outside.
“They were always inside, even the eight to ten cars, they didn’t come and go often,” said Shirley R. Harris, who lives across the street from Moore.
Moore was charged with five felony counts including rape, facilitating travel to meet a child for sex, and three counts of traveling to meet a child for sex. He’s also accused of sexually assaulting at least three little girls from Detroit. Investigators believe there are other victims.
“I hope they all come forward so all the charges are counted to justice will be taken care of,” said Harris.
District Attorney Houston warned anyone who may have received the widely distributed video on social media to delete it because possessing it in itself is a crime.
Prosecutors believe the crimes were committed in Detroit and in Moore’s home in Alabama.
