Rickenbach
A Franklin man is facing child pornography, drug possession and operating a vehicle while suspended charges following an investigation by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Hunter Reed Rickenbach, 27, is facing six counts of possession of child pornography, a Level 6 felony; one count of possession of meth, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor charges of possession of paraphernalia and operating a vehicle while suspended with a prior conviction.
Detectives with the Johnson County Sheriff’s office first began investigating Rickenbach while working on a separate investigation. During the separate investigation, detectives were going through a download of Rickenbach’s phone when they located a Snapchat conversation from April. In the conversation, Rickenbach and a teenager allegedly had a sexually explicit conversation, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 2 on Monday.
Rickenbach allegedly asked the teen if they were ready to have sexual contact and to send pictures of themself in their underwear or naked. The teen declined, saying they weren’t ready for that yet, according to the affidavit.
Detectives say that on May 13, Rickenbach allegedly accessed photos and videos that showed a 14-year-old naked in a bathroom, exposing themselves. A month later to the day, more photos of the nude teen were accessed on Rickenbach’s phone, according to the affidavit.
In both instances, the photos were accessed on a phone taken from Rickenbach during an unrelated interview, the affidavit says.
Detectives spoke with the teen’s mother on Sept. 8, who identified their child as the one in the nude photos. The teen then spoke with detectives, and later allegedly denied talking to Rickenbach and sending him nude photos. The teen also allegedly said they knew Rickenbach as he allegedly was a relative’s friend, the affidavit says.
Later in the interview, the teen allegedly told detectives that they did send two videos to Rickenbach. The teen also allegedly said that Rickenbach never touched them, according to the affidavit.
Detectives asked Rickenbach to come to the sheriff’s office for an interview on Sept. 22. While they were waiting for him to arrive, deputies observed him driving into the parking lot in a vehicle. They later determined that Rickenbach’s license was suspended and that he was driving illegally, the affidavit says.
During the interview, Rickenbach allegedly admitted to knowing the teen and said he believed the teen to be 15 or 16 years old. He also allegedly admitted to being friends with them on Snapchat, sending them messages and saving photos and videos he received from the teen on his phone. Rickenbach was later taken into custody, according to the affidavit.
Deputies conducted a search of Rickenbach’s vehicle, and while searching the vehicle, they allegedly found a clear baggie of a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine in plain view. They also allegedly found a clear smoking pipe in the center console, the affidavit says.
Rickenback remains at the Johnson County jail where his bond is set at $22,800. An initial hearing has not yet been set.
