Federal Child Porn Production, Distribution Charges Filed Against Mountain View Man

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA -- A Mountain View man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges related to the production and distribution of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Grant Ridder, 26, was charged with production, distribution and possession of child pornography, cyberstalking and coercion and enticement of a minor, according to prosecutors. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Ridder was arrested May 17 after a 16-year-old girl reported that someone had accessed her Facebook account without her consent and posted sexually explicit photos of her on her own page.

Investigators identified Ridder as allegedly owning the IP address that was used to post the images on Facebook, according to federal prosecutors.

The girl had recently ended a "relationship" with Ridder, prosecutors said.

Additionally, Ridder is alleged to have asked a 13-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself. When she refused, Ridder allegedly told the girl he would show her mother photos of her "in a state of undress" that she'd previously sent to him, according to prosecutors. Fearing that her mother would find out about the photos, the girl sent several sexually explicit photographs to Ridder.

Ridder allegedly admitted during an interview with investigators that he distributed the sexually explicit photographs to other people.

Ridder's next court date is on Wednesday in U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins' courtroom for a hearing to determine if he should remain in custody pending trial.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock