The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made several arrests over the past couple of weeks, including a California man charged in a horrifying case against a seven-year-old victim. Authorities are urging parents to be aware of what their children are viewing online.

December 8, 18-year-old Nathan Corona of Laentrada Drive, Marino Valley, California, was arrested under a sealed indictment for exploitation of a minor under the age of 13 and soliciting exploitation of a minor for offenses occurring on May 27, 2024. He is under a $200,000 bond and will be in court on December 9.

Sheriff Ray said that the case had been assigned to a detective at the Sheriff’s Department in June 2024, after the victim was reported as a seven-year-old female. The child was communicating with the adult, and sending nude pictures of herself. It was discovered and originally reported to the Smithville Police Department, who saw the call phone at the victim’s home. After determining that the offense had occurred in the county, the Sheriff’s Department became involved.

Authorities took custody of the cell phone, which was not hooked up to any plan that the victim or family had. The victim had reportedly been using it for Wi-Fi only.

Authorities allege that the victim was coerced to send nude photos and perform sexual acts on herself. The suspect identified himself as Nate, and tried to call the child in the child’s parent’s presence. Corona also allegedly sent nude photos of himself to the minor. Sheriff Ray said that Corona was grooming the child through an internet game, which led to popup chats, then to other illegal apps used for the sexual exploitation of children.

The Department of Children’s Services has also been notified in the case, who took the child for an interview at the Upper Cumberland Children’s Advocacy Center in Cookeville.

Sheriff Ray said that his department also worked with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on the case, as well as the Internet Crime Division. On July 15, 2024, they reported that a phone analysis has complete, and had sent subpoenas to different phone companies and apps used. Corona was eventually tracked to Moreno Valley, CA, where the Riverside Sheriff’s Department was notified. That department’s internet crime unit searched the home and collected digital evidence. Corona also allegedly confessed to the crime.

Corona was arrested and extradited back to Tennessee and DeKalb County on December 8.

Sheriff Ray said that it is very important that parents check what their children are viewing online, even if they might not have a personal computer or laptop. Most all cell phones are Wi-Fi capable, which can lead to unsecured networks.

“We want to ask parents and grandparents to make sure children are only watching age-appropriate stuff on the Internet.” He went on to say that you should not hesitate to report anything that might be suspicious to the Sheriff’s Department or local law enforcement.