Central Nebraska student arrested for alleged child exploitation scheme

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — A central Nebraska high school student, and a teacher at his school, were arrested Tuesday on charges related to child pornography.

These arrests resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Grand Island (Nebraska) Police Department.

Brian Mohr, 37, a teacher at Northwest High School in Grand Island, Nebraska, was taken into custody at his residence. A 17-year-old Northwest High School student was also taken into custody.

The arrests are in relation to a case in which it is alleged that the student obtained elicit images of other minors via a social media ruse, and then used some of those images to coerce them into performing sexual acts and to provide additional images. Those images were then allegedly shared with Mohr. Numerous images have been identified as students at the school where Mohr is employed.

The student suspect was arrested on charges of 1st degree sexual assault, human trafficking of a minor, unlawful intrusion, and multiple counts of distribution of child pornography. Mohr was arrested as a suspect in multiple counts of possession of child pornography. All the charges are classified as felonies.

This remains an ongoing investigation and is being worked with the full cooperation of the Northwest School District.

Members of the public who have information about this case are urged to contact local police at (308) 385-5400, or to call the local HSI office at (308) 385-1409.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 25,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2019, more than 3,500 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.