Ramona Childcare Owners' Son Arrested on Suspicion of Child Porn

A Ramona man, and reported son of the owners of a childcare center, was arraigned in federal court Monday after being arrested on suspicion of receiving child pornography.

Mark Robert Kiefer, 32, was arrested at his residence Monday morning on suspicion of receiving depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, a felony violation, according to a news release from the U. S. Postal Inspection Service in Los Angeles.

Channel 10 TV went to the arraignment and reports he is the son of the owners of a Ramona childcare center and that he lives on the same property. The station reports the childcare license has been suspended since March because of the investigation.

Postal inspectors, U. S. marshals and members of the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force took part in the arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, Kiefer was a member of Internet bulletin boards dedicated to trading child pornography, child erotica and a small amount of adult pornography. The complaint alleges that Kiefer made more than 300 postings between March 8, 2006 and Sept. 8, 2008 on the boards. It further claims that he was in possession of approximately 842 images and 42 videos depicting child pornography when postal inspectors and task force members executed a federal search warrant at his residence.

“The investigation of child exploitation remains a priority to the United States Postal Inspection Service," said B. Bernard Ferguson, Inspector in Charge at the Los Angeles division. "But prevention is key to protecting our children. Postal inspectors urge parents to educate themselves and their children."

The case is being investigated by the inspection service and prosecuted by the U. S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, according to the news release.

Magistrate Judge Jan M. Adler set the bail at $50,000. Kiefer is next scheduled to be in court at 9 a.m. June 30 before Judge William McCurine.