Ohio Woman Formally Indicted on Charges of Sexually Exploiting Toddlers

CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Molly Elisabeth Duncan, 25, of Beachwood, Ohio, with sexual exploitation of children, distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), which is also known as child pornography.

According to the indictment, from November 2023 to March 2024, Duncan allegedly engaged in the sexual exploitation of minor victim #1 for the purpose of producing a visual depiction to distribute to others. From April 2024 to July 2024, she engaged in the sexual exploitation of minor victim #2 for the purpose of producing a visual depiction to distribute to others. Duncan is also alleged to have used a mobile application to send numerous CSAM digital files to others that contained the visual depictions of the minor victims.

In the original criminal complaint and underlying affidavit filed April 4, 2025, Duncan was a nanny to two toddler-aged victims and was alleged to have produced sexual abuse materials of each in their homes located in the Northern District of Ohio. During a forensic examination of a cellphone found in her possession, investigators discovered multiple CSAM images and videos on the device.

If convicted of sexual exploitation of children, Duncan faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years. If convicted of distributing visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, she faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years. 

This case is being investigated by the Cleveland Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret A. Kane and Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio.

Anyone with knowledge and information about this matter, please call the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 216-698-3151.

An indictment is merely a charge. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. Launched in May 2006, this nationwide initiative combats the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOs, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.