Shocking Discovery: Decade of Child Porn Unveiled in Cobblestone Farms

On Thursday, the Maricopa Police Department arrested 24-year-old Benjamin Edward Grove on charges of child sex exploitation. This arrest followed an extensive investigation that involved multiple agencies.

The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted local authorities on September 24. It was discovered that the Phoenix Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit traced Grove’s IP address to the upload of seven videos featuring child sexual assault material. This content was found on his Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone.

Investigators utilized a combination of subpoenas and search warrants to identify Grove. They uncovered a connection to an account on Kik, a messaging app known for its association with child exploitation, as noted by the Department of Defense. Evidence retrieved from this account included child pornography and personal images of Grove.

Officers apprehended Grove outside his residence in Cobblestone Farms on Celtic Avenue. During questioning, he admitted to being addicted to child pornography for four years and confessed to uploading illegal content on his Kik account prior to its recent ban.

Grove disclosed that he purchased these materials from individuals in Kik group chats, with costs ranging from $20 to $40 per file. Upon further investigation, he acknowledged possessing over 50 files of child pornography on his phone, with additional material likely stored on his computers, tablets, and flash drives.

Following his arrest, Grove was booked into the Pinal County jail. Additionally, his case has been transferred from Western Pinal Justice Court to the Pinal County Superior Court, although no further details have emerged regarding the case.

If convicted, Grove faces a potential prison sentence of more than seven years.