S.J. man charged with possessing child porn
Police say suspect’s Twitter account contained explicit messages with children
Prosecutors on Wednesday charged a 54-year- old San Jose man with possession of child pornography, authorities said.
The San Jose Police Department opened an investigation into Robert Hicks last week after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that he was in possession of child pornography, Officer Gina Tepoorten said in a news release.
Tepoorten said Hicks used the fictitious name of “Wyatt” on his Twitter account, which allegedly contained child pornography and explicit messages between him and underage children.
Detectives also discovered Hicks was a registered sex offender and on post- release community supervision in Santa
Clara County for possession of child pornography, Tepoorten said.
Tepoorten said San Jose police detectives, along with Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and county probat ion officers, arrested Hicks at his place of employment for a probation violation on Jan. 9.
On Wednesday, the county district attorney’s office amended the charges to include possession of child pornography, Tepoorten said.
Anyone with information about the incident or any other similar incidents can contact San Jose police Detective Mike O’Grady at 408- 537-1379.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408- 947- STOP (7867) or svcrimestoppers. org. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.