LOGAN — A 18-year-old Logan man, suspected of taking pornographic pictures and videos of a young girl, has waived his right to a preliminary hearing, accepting the charges that have been filed against him.
Emanuel Zamora appeared in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He faces eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
According to a warrant affidavit, investigators received information on September 7 that Zamora was taking photographs of an 11-year-old relative. The pictures were allegedly taken while the victim was asleep and showed her in various stages of undress. The photos were then uploaded to a website, allegedly used for sharing child pornography. He also posted comments on the site about possibly sexually abusing the child.
On September 19, FBI agents served a search warrant to Zamora’s apartment. They found multiple images and videos of the juvenile on the suspect’s phone. The material appeared to be filmed unknowingly, while the victim was undressing.
During Monday’s court appearance, public defender Mike McGinnis said they wished to waive their right to a preliminary hearing and plead “not guilty” to all of the charges. He explained that they and prosecutors were working on a possible plea deal but needed more time to work out the agreement.
Judge Thomas Willmore said he would allow Zamora more time. He ordered him to appear again in court April 1.
Zamora is out of jail after posting $80,000 bail. He could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.