Las Cruces man charged with sexual exploitation of a child

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- New Mexico law enforcement officers charged 38-year-old Zachary Tarin with one count of felony exploitation of a child.

Court documents state officers showed up to Tarin's home with a search warrant on March 17, 2022, suspecting him of having child pornography on his cell phone.

Officers report watching Tarin destroy his cellphone.

Once investigators were able to recover the contents of the phone, they found several hundred pornographic images. Investigators say a few of those images portrayed children.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Tarin's arrest earlier this year. Officers picked him up at 1851 Copper Loop in West Las Cruces this month.

Jail records show Tarin was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center just after 9 a.m. July 14.

Jail officials are holding Tarin without bond and they have yet to schedule his first court hearing.