A Newark man today admitted inducing a girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct, while he took pictures and video, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Pedro Rios, 59, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Rios admitted that on five separate dates between March 4, 2008 and Nov. 8, 2011, he induced a girl - under the age of 12- to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of taking pictures and videos of the child’s genitals and the sexually explicit conduct. Rios also admitted having images of a child being sexually abused on Feb. 5, 2013.
Several of the videos charged in the superseding indictment, depict Rios’ abuse of the child in the cab of a tractor trailer truck.
Each count of sexual exploitation of a child to which Rios pleaded guilty to carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The possession of child pornography charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Rios will be required to register as a sex offender.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2015.