GPD makes child exploitation arrest

Press release from Gainesville Police Department

On November 19, 2021, the Gainesville Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division, with the assistance of GPD SWAT, served a search warrant at 520 NW 4th Street. The investigation was prompted after GPD received a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The Cyber Tip indicated that an account holder uploaded and shared child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through the social networking application Snapchat; in total, two tips were received. Subsequent to the Cyber Tip, detectives obtained lawful access to the account information and the files that were shared. The files shared were determined to be child sexual abuse material of minor prepubescent children. Additionally, chats were uncovered where the suspect was soliciting nude images from minor girls and sending unsolicited nude images of himself.

Further investigation revealed that the account was likely registered to 24-year old Kyle A. Rittenhouse (DOB: 08/22/1997), who lived at the residence to be searched.

Rittenhouse was interviewed by detectives on November 19, 2021, and acknowledged ownership of the Snapchat account in question and the possession and sharing of child sexual abuse material through his account. Rittenhouse also admitted to sending images of his penis to young girls whom he presumed to be minors.

A preliminary analysis of Rittenhouse’s cell-phone(s) revealed dozens of CSAM images in his possession. Rittenhouse was taken into custody by GPD Detective Montague and charged with 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography, 1 count of Distribution of Child Pornography, 1 count of Solicitation of a Minor, and 1 count of Transmission of Harmful Material to Minors.

The Gainesville Police Department wants parents to be aware that children are being solicited and exploited through social networking applications. These social networking applications are also used to share images and videos that depict young children being sexually abused. Please be vigilant and aware of any social networking platforms your children may access.

If you have any questions about this incident, please contact GPD Detective Donna Montague at 352-393-7730 or montagueda@cityofgainesville.org. Parents can also find resources at the NCMEC website: https://www.missingkids.org/HOME

  • His name suggests he was framed by the FBI to pollute the reputation of THE Kyle R. So when the latter applies for a job or college, the name search will say he was a pedophile. Don’t be surprised.

    • Pretty sure he’s now a household name, along with Nicholas Sandmann (the “Covington teen”). He will be on Tucker Carlson on Monday. I doubt he will get hundreds of millions of dollars like Sandmann probably received, but he will definitely get some money for people in the media calling him a white supremacist, domestic terrorist, etc. He should have lots of opportunities to make money. In any case, he seems like he can fend for himself.

    • He is a murdering racist how could his name be tarnished anymore than it is. He wasn’t convinced solely based on the fact of him being white and other Racists donations to his defense funds.

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