California man facing rape charges, now arrested for child porn

A California man already facing felony charges in two counties is now accused of possessing dozens of explicit images involving minors. Court records show that 21-year-old Ernest Blair Jr. was […]

California man facing rape charges, now arrested for child porn

A California man already facing felony charges in two counties is now accused of possessing dozens of explicit images involving minors.

Court records show that 21-year-old Ernest Blair Jr. was served a warrant Thursday in Moniteau County, where he now faces 29 counts of possessing child pornography.

Blair was previously charged in Miller County with first-degree making a terroristic threat after allegedly calling in a gun threat to Eldon High School last year at the request of a student. A hearing in that case is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Miller County Courthouse.

Earlier this year, Blair was also charged in Moniteau County with second-degree statutory rape. According to the probable cause statement, he admitted knowing the victim was 15 years old. Investigators said the pair were “trying to conceive a child.”

Law enforcement began investigating the relationship on April 10 after receiving information about the possible abuse. The victim spoke with officers later that month, providing details of repeated assaults, according to court documents.

Blair was arrested on April 29 and charged with statutory rape that same day.

A search of his phone later uncovered numerous explicit images and videos, leading to the new child pornography charges. The Missouri Digital Forensic Center provided the report confirming the material. A hearing in the statutory rape case is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Moniteau County Courthouse.

As of Thursday, a hearing date had not yet been set for the child pornography charges.

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