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Woman charged with renting out young girl to accused Stockton child pornographer

Record - 6/10/2020

STOCKTON -- Federal prosecutors revealed this week that they have charged a woman with bringing a young child to a child photographer already accused of distributing lewd photos of children -- and that she did so knowing the child would be molested and used in pornography.

Katherine Herrera, 30, was charged June 6 with production of child pornography, a federal offense. The charging records allege that Herrera delivered a girl who was less than 10 years old at the time to Jonathan Thornton, a Stockton photographer who has been charged with distributing child pornography on the Dark Web.

According to the criminal complaint, Herrera brought a girl who was advertised online as "Pixie" to Thornton, who photographed and filmed the girl in various stages of undress.

The FBI recovered text messages between Thornton and Herrera, in which he explains his intentions around specific costumes and props, and she agrees to deliver the girl, according to the complaint.

"We can also recycle a few of the outfits for the new clients I picked up," Thornton allegedly wrote in a text to Herrera. "Hopefully we can catch two or three and get a submission fee at least. That's usually around $50 but varies from client to client."

"Ok when," Herrera allegedly replied.

When Thornton received payment for the child sexual abuse content, he texted ""Wohoo" to Herrera and split the fee with her, according to the complaint.

Thornton is also in a pile of legal trouble, and faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted. Federal authorities announced his arrest last week, writing in the complaint that Thornton was a photographer who recruited child models and marketed himself online as a professional with industry connections. Both his Instagram account and website for his business -- Thornton Photography Studio -- have been taken down since his arrest was made public.

The criminal complaint against Thornton says that he was caught red-handed in 2013 when federal authorities identified him as a child exploitation suspect and searched his home. For reasons that have yet to be made public, Thornton was never charged and remained active in the photography business until his arrest this year.

Herrera and Thornton remain in federal custody at the Sacramento jail. Her preliminary hearing has been set for June 22, according to court records.

Authorities say that in addition to running his studio in Stockton, Thornton has done business in the Los Angeles County city of Baldwin Park.

This case is being prosecuted by the Eastern District of California U.S. Attorney's office. Tips can be made by calling the FBI's office in Sacramento at (916) 746-7000.

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