INDEPENDENCE — A 15-year-old who police called a “computer genius” faces 692 felony charges, accused of running what authorities describe as an Internet child pornography ring.

        Authorities allege that the boy, who is from the Independence area, traded pornographic images of children with visitors to his Web site.

        All the charges involve distributing matter portraying a sexual performance of a minor, Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson said.

        “Some of the photos include abuse of infants and bestiality,” Mr. Edmondson said in a statement released Wednesday. “They are extremely disturbing — perhaps more so because of the young age of the defendant.”

        Lt. Col. Ed Butler of Kenton County police said the charges lodged against the teen were based on the number of images found on his computer that involved child pornography.

        Although Kenton County Police have investigated other possible Internet pornography rings, this is the first thought to be operated by a juvenile, he said.

        “We would like parents to know that this isn't a case where someone is taking your child out of school and taking these photographs,” Assistant Chief Butler said. “He was charged on the images that were on his computer, not that he had some elaborate operation for creating these things.”

        Assistant Chief Butler said the images traded on the Internet involved both sexes involved in various types of sexual activity. He said he didn't know the exact number of victims pictured in the photographic images or where they were from.

        “They could be from anywhere in the world,” he said. “This person was receiving images from various sources. He probably doesn't care or know who they are.”

        Assistant Chief Butler said the Crestview Hills office of the FBI learned of the situation in July.

        “They were contacted by an FBI task force out of Arizona that monitors activities on computers,” Assistant Chief Butler said. “If they come across a potential criminal case, they notify the local office where it's emanating from.”

        Authorities from the Northern Kentucky FBI office then contacted Kenton County police, Assistant Chief Butler said.

        The boy was arrested after authorities investigated, obtained search warrants, seized his computer and had it analyzed.

        Authorities charged the teen in early January, after receiving the results of the computer analysis, Assistant Chief Butler said.

        The youth's parents were not charged, Assistant Chief Butler said. Mr. Edmondson said the boy will be tried Feb. 22. The county attorney's office is seeking to have the youth sent away for residential placement as a juvenile sex offender.

        He could also face the maximum statutory sentence, which is 45 days of jail time.

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