Mountain View Resident Charged With Production Of Child Pornography And Cyberstalking

SAN JOSE - Grant Ridder was arraigned yesterday on federal charges of production of child pornography, distribution and possession of child pornography, cyberstalking, and coercion and enticement of a minor, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and United States Secret Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Philip A. Pesavento.  The arraignment follows an indictment handed down by a federal grand jury on May 18, 2017.

Ridder, 26, is a resident of Mountain View.  According to a search warrant filed publicly in the case, law enforcement agents began investigating Ridder after a minor victim, 16, reported that her Facebook account had been accessed without her consent and sexually explicit photographs of her had been posted on her Facebook page.  An investigation determined that Ridder owned the IP address that accessed the victim’s account when the photographs were being posted.  The minor victim had recently ended a relationship with Ridder. 

The search warrant also identifies a second minor victim.  The second victim, 13, reported that Ridder requested that she send him sexually explicit photographs of herself.  When she refused, Ridder told her that he would show her mother other photographs the victim had previously sent to him depicting the victim in a state of undress.  According to the search warrant, the victim reported that she “became scared” and took several sexually explicit photographs and sent them to Ridder.  According to the warrant, Ridder admitted in an interview with law enforcement that he distributed the sexually explicit photographs to others. 

In the indictment, Ridder is charged with two counts of production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a); three counts of distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2); one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B); three counts of cyberstalking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A; and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). 

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), the defendant faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years, a maximum sentence of 30 years, and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution, if appropriate.  If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), the defendant faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 5 years, a maximum sentence of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution, if appropriate.  If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B), the defendant faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, if appropriate.  If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2), the defendant faces a maximum prison sentence of 5 years and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution, if appropriate.  If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), the defendant faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years, a maximum sentence of life, and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution, if appropriate.  Additional fines and a term of supervised release also may be imposed, however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Ridder was arrested and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal on May 24, 2017.  His next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on May 31, 2017, before United States Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins for a hearing to determine whether he should be released or remain in custody pending trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maia Perez is prosecuting the case.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, and the Martinez Police Department.