Man Accused of Molesting Boys, Child Porn Production, Sentenced to 25 Years

An Inland Empire man who was accused of molesting three children, photographing the abuse, and trading the images online with other pedophiles was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in federal prison, court officials said.

Peter Ruiz, 33, of San Bernardino, was described by prosecutors in court papers as a "ruthless predator," Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said.

Almost all of the crimes of abuse occurred at Ruiz' residence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Priya Sopori said Tuesday in a phone interview.

Ruiz was accused of repeatedly molesting a boy who lived in an apartment near where Ruiz lived with his family, in 2009 and 2010, Mrozek said. Ruiz allegedly documented the abuse with photos and videos that he distributed to pedophiles, sometimes in exchange for money.

"When authorities searched Ruiz's computer on Halloween in 2010, they discovered more than 6,000 images and over 600 videos of child pornography, which included images of Ruiz molesting the then-12-year-old victim," Mrozek said in a statement.

Ruiz allegedly sexually abused two other boys, who were ages 9 and 10 when they were attacked, Mrozek said. He "groomed" all of his victims with small gifts and access to video games, according to prosecutors.

"Ruiz sexually abused at least three children, nearly destroying them and their families in the process," federal prosecutors wrote in a document filed in relation to Tuesday's sentencing hearing.

Prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo that Ruiz "appears to show no remorse for his crimes," Mrozek said. Ruiz maintains a "brazen and nonchalant attitude toward his abuse of children...bragg[ing] about these sexual exploits to a fellow inmate."

Ruiz developed a pattern of grooming his victims, "professing his love for them, and eventually intimidating them into keeping silent," according to prosecutors.

Ruiz pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2012, to one count of production of child pornography. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips in Riverside.

The case against Ruiz resulted from an FBI investigation.

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