OTHELLO, Wash. – Juan Marcos Hernandez-Arciniega, 30, of Othello was sentenced to 41 months in prison on January 26, 2026, after pleading guilty to dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to Othello Police Department, in July 2025, detectives from the Othello Police Department received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip suggested Hernandez-Arciniega was involved in sharing child sexual abuse material, with activity reaching as far as Los Angeles, California.
On September 10, 2025, police served a search warrant at a residence on the 600 block of Kaylee Road. Several cellphones were seized, and Hernandez-Arciniega was arrested. Two phones were found on his bed, connected to chargers, suspected of sharing the material.
During a post-arrest interview, Hernandez-Arciniega admitted to possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material on X and WhatsApp. He believed he could monetize the videos and stated he had not physically assaulted a child.
A total of 45 CyberTips were linked to Hernandez-Arciniega. Detectives did not find evidence that he produced the material or that victims were local to Othello.
The Othello Police Department thanked several agencies for their support, including the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations Spokane.
The department remains committed to protecting vulnerable community members and pursuing those who exploit them.
Readers can find more information about the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children here.
