Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Tera is helping the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois apprehend predators.
Earlier this year, she found key evidence in a case that began when a messaging app detected multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files on its platform.
Authorities identified 24-year-old Jared Honegger as the user responsible for uploading the CSAM. The Lake County Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team and Illinois Attorney General’s Cybercrime Unit then obtained a search warrant.
When authorities arrived at Honegger’s residence, they caught him watching CSAM. And during a search of his bedroom, Tera located several devices that contained more illicit images and videos depicting children.
Law enforcement officials arrested Honegger. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office then charged him with five counts of possession of CSAM. Each is a class two felony in the state of Illinois.
In April, authorities in Lake County received three tips from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about potential crimes involving CSAM.
Using the information available to them, they quickly discovered that all three tips focused on the same suspect. However, officials did not know the suspect’s identity until executing a search warrant.
It was then that officials identified the suspect, who admitted to buying CSAM online from different social media applications and reselling it to make money. In the suspect’s room, Tera found several electronic devices.
Since she graduated from ESD K9 training in August 2022, Tera has provided assistance on 25 different search warrants. She also attends community events to help educate locals.
You can follow Tera on Instagram for more updates on her work.