OSBI investigation leads to arrest of Muldrow man on 3 counts of child sexual exploitation
A Muldrow man is facing three felony counts of child sexual exploitation in Sequoyah County District Court following an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
A Muldrow man is facing three felony counts of child sexual exploitation in Sequoyah County District Court following an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
Epic O. Serna, 20, pled not guilty to his charges and is awaiting a Nov. 4 preliminary hearing before Special Judge Matt Orendorff, according to court documents.
OSBI Special Agent Janell Daggett reported on Oct. 19, 2023, she was assigned an Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) investigation. According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, between June 27 and Aug. 15, 2023, Twitter, Inc. reported incidents of suspected child sexual abuse materials to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). It was noted in the affidavit that the screen name of Epic, epic_serna, and others similar to that screen name, were reportedly associated with the e-mail accounts being used to view the sexual material.
The cyber tip files indicated that 11 separate CSAM videos and photographs were found that reportedly matched the Twitter user. The images included both male and female children, some as young as toddlers and some teens and young adults, in various pornographic images.
The special agent was able to determine that the phone number and IP address to three different Twitter accounts was used 69 times between June and August 2023. After a subpoena was issued to the phone company and internet provider associated with the phone number and IP address, OSBI found the phone belonged to a male subject in Muldrow, identified as Serna. Daggett was also able to identify Serna from his social media account and driver’s license information.
On Sept. 19, a residential search warrant was executed by OSBI and Cherokee Marshal Service at the residence in Muldrow where Daggett conducted an interview with a family member of Serna’s. The family member reportedly confirmed that the phone number was Serna’s old cell number and that he did reside at the residence.
District Attorney Jack Thorp said each charge is punishable by life imprisonment or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine.
