Germaine Moore, Suspect Behind Viral Child Pornography Video, Arrested

A man from Alabama was arrested in connection to a child pornography video posted on Facebook last week that went viral.

The suspect Germaine Moore, 44, was charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct, including sexual assault of a child and distribution of video depicting the assault, the Alabama Internet Crime Against Children Task Force and Central Alabama Crime Stoppers announced on Monday, Fox News reported.

The video in question, being circulated on Facebook and other social platforms, shows a young girl being forced to perform oral sex on an adult male. It has been watched several times by viewers from Colorado to France. The girl seen in the video — whose name has not been revealed for security reasons — has been located by the police and is currently safe.

After investigators looked into Moore’s background, his extensive rap sheet was revealed, with 11 felony charges spanning across multiple states. Moore was charged with sexually abusing three girls under the age of 13, between 2011 and 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Moore has been described by the state police as being 6-feet tall and weighing about 214 pounds, AL reported.

Moore's wife was also taken into custody by the police but she refused to cooperate.

State authorities issued an official warning to the public against sharing the video if someone was to come across it on social media. The stern warning was to reiterate the fact that distribution of child pornography is punishable by law.

“As this investigation proceeds, law enforcement issues a reminder to the public that possession, dissemination or sharing of this video is a criminal act punishable under the Code of Alabama, SS13A-12-191, Dissemination or public display of obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts, a Class B felony; and SS13A-12-192(b), Possession and possession with intent to disseminate obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts, a Class C felony,” Tony Garrett, executive director of Crime Stoppers said.

Law enforcement officials also guided people on the appropriate course of action in such a case. "If you receive this video through social media, report it to the social media platform and delete it immediately,'' Garrett added. “Do not share it, as criminal charges may result."

Over the weekend, Facebook’s spokesperson issued a similar warning for its users, advising them against distributing the pornographic clip.

"We do not allow the sharing of child exploitative images on Facebook or Messenger — even to express outrage. Regardless of intention, sharing such imagery is harmful and illegal," the spokesperson said. "When we become aware of such images, we remove them and notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. We urge people never to share such content and to report it to local authorities immediately."

Jerrell Washington, 42, was arrested by U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force on Monday for distributing the viral clip and charged with possession and dissemination of child pornography. He is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Facility, under a $100,000 bond.