PHOENIX — More than 49,000 images and 700 videos, many of which are child sexual abuse material, were discovered on a phone belonging to a Phoenix police officer, according to the FBI.
Alaa Bartley, 41, of Gilbert, was arrested last week and placed on administrative leave, according to the Phoenix Police Department. In a news release on Monday, the FBI said Bartley is facing charges connected to receiving and possessing child sex abuse images. Neighbors of the officer told 12News that federal agents raided the officer's home on Thursday.
"The complaint alleges that, between August 2020 and February 2022, while living in Gilbert, Bartley used a social media platform to communicate with an adult woman, with the two expressing their sexual interest in children and the woman sending Bartley child pornography images," the news release said.
In court documents, Bartley allegedly engaged in sexual roleplay with the woman in Michigan, in which the woman played the role of a minor-age girl. Bartley used a fictitious name, but identified himself as a police officer, according to the FBI.
Over 17 months of communication between the two, the woman transmitted child pornography to Bartley and Bartley acknowledged receiving the same. The woman was arrested in November of 2023, according to court documents, and has been federally charged with the distribution and possession of child pornography in Michigan.
In court documents, Bartley stated that he fantasized about molesting family members and spoke about minors he came into contact with through day-to-day activities in sexually explicit ways.
Bartley also asked the woman in Michigan to acquire nude photographs of a 14-year-old on a social media platform.
“I think it would be hot for you to groom minors for daddy,” one message read. “Is that too much?”
On one of two phones searched by the FBI, forensic examiners found more than 49,000 images and 700 videos, many of which were identified as child sexual abuse material. The forensic analysis of the second phone is ongoing, court documents said.
According to court documents, knowingly receiving child pornography carries a sentence of five to 20 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between five years to life. The second count, knowingly possessing or accessing with the intent to view child pornography, can be punished by zero to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of between five years to life.
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