Southern California man is accused of molesting and filming an 8-year-old boy

A tip from New Zealand led to the arrest of a Riverside County man suspected of filming pornographic videos of an 8-year-old boy, and authorities are now searching for other potential victims.

John Edward Lario, 20, of Banning, was arrested in September on suspicion of child sexual abuse and is currently being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

New Zealand child exploitation investigators contacted Homeland Security Investigations on September 2 after discovering a link containing videos and images of child sexual abuse from Riverside, authorities said.

A joint investigation by the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team and HSI officials led to Lario's arrest, authorities said, and a search of his home revealed the identity of the alleged 8-year-old victim.

Lario is charged with sexual penetration or oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age, indecent conduct with a child under 14 years of age, exploiting a minor for sexual conduct for the purpose of producing data or images of the conduct, and inflicting unjustified pain or mental suffering a child is charged with a minor offense, authorities said.

If convicted as charged, he could face a possible life sentence, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 4th.

“This investigation is a perfect example to highlight HSI Riverside’s dedication and commitment to the well-being of children,” HSI Riverside Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bracken said in a statement. “This arrest underscores HSI’s ability to coordinate with its international, state and local partners to quickly prosecute and bring offenders to justice.”

Investigators believe there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information to call the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team hotline at (866) 723-3595.