VENTURA, California — In a deeply troubling case, a 20-year-old resident of Ventura County, known by the alias “Rhythmic” on Snapchat, is now facing serious charges related to child sex trafficking and exploitation, as announced by authorities on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Unit initiated an investigation into Victor Manuel Avalos Jr. of Oxnard in December 2023 following tips about a person sharing videos of a teenage girl on Snapchat.
The investigation uncovered that the account, associated with Avalos, not only shared inappropriate content but also posted a ‘menu’ offering material for purchase, as reported by CyberTips. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, along with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Avalos’ residence on January 19.
Avalos is accused of obtaining child sexual assault material from online sources and profiting from its sale. Shockingly, he also faces allegations of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old child.
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“The Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force is not only committed to locating and rescuing children from exploitation and human trafficking, but also to locating and apprehending anyone who willingly sought out and purchased this material,” emphasized District Attorney Supervising Investigator Terry Dobrosky.
Authorities suspect that there may be additional victims who had contact with Avalos under the Snapchat name “Rhythmic.” Currently in custody, Avalos is charged with 10 felony counts, including unlawful acts with a child 10 years old or younger, forcible lewd acts upon a child, causing a minor to engage in commercial sex acts, advertising child sexual assault material for sale, and possession of child pornography.
This distressing case highlights the ongoing challenges in safeguarding our communities, particularly our most vulnerable members.
