Federal prosecutors added four more charges of child exploitation against a former Army private Nov. 7.
Parker White was first charged on one felony count of possession of child pornography March 10. Prosecutors claimed he carried on a remote sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Floridian while he was based at Fort Irwin National Training Center, a base 36 miles north of Barstow.
The Nov. 7 indictment charges him with production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, after alleging receiving sexually explicit photos and videos from the 14-year-old.
The Feb. 21 affidavit claims White, who is 21 years old, met the girl on Instagram and sent her sexually explicit photos over Snapchat.
The girl told a Florida sheriff’s deputy that White knew she was underage, and that he originally pretended to be 15 years old. When the deputy communicated with White using the girl’s phone, he sent sexually explicit photos and videos while wearing the United States Army uniform, according to the affidavit.
Special Agents Michael Charlton and Caitlin McCay of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case after the deputy contacted the department Jan. 27, 2022.
During a Mirandized interview, White admitted to the relationship, to knowing the girl’s age and to being in similar relationships with other minors, Charlton wrote. White admitted to having sexually explicit videos of the girl.
Charlton identified five other minors that White had engaged with. McCay discovered 27 additional sexually explicit photos of other people who were likely to be minors on White’s phone.
During a later interview, White admitted to continuing the relationships with the minors, and admitted to re-accessing the child pornography by buying a new phone and syncing it to his iCloud, Charlton wrote.
White is currently in custody. Trial is set for March 14.
Public Defender Howard Shneider represents White.
Central District of California Magistrate Judge Margo Rocconi presides.
Case No. 5:23-cr-00040
Read the affidavit here.
Read the indictment here.
Read the new indictment here.
