Man facing charges for child porn and stalking
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IDAHO FALLS – More than 100 images and videos of child pornography were found on the computer of a man accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend.
An arrest warrant for Mathew Mobley, 44, was issued Sept. 8, after law enforcement identified child pornography on his laptop computer. The laptop was turned over to law enforcement by a man Mobley hired to fix it.
According to court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, law enforcement found 158 pictures and videos containing child pornography. The children in the images ranged between eight to 13 years old.
Mobley faces five felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Each charge carries with it a maximum of 10 years in prison a $10,000 fine on top of paying restitution.
A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 13, in Bonneville County court.
According to court documents, police were searching for Mobley near his ex-girlfriend’s home whom he had reportedly been sending threatening text messages. They found him sleeping in a vehicle he had taken and not returned to his ex-girlfriend.
He was taken into custody on Sept. 9.
According to court documents, upon his arrest, Mobley told police he believed he was being arrested for “problems” he was having with his ex-girlfriend. He admitted to police he had threatened to kill her and told them “harm would come to her” when he got out of prison.
When told he was arrested for possession of child pornography he claimed he had never downloaded anything onto his computer. He told police he had traded something for the computer and that the previous owner must have put the images on it, though, he refused to divulge the person’s name.
According to court documents, after receiving permission from Mobley’s ex-girlfriend, the owner of the vehicle, to search the vehicle, police found methamphetamine and other illegal drug paraphernalia. Police also found videos of Mobley using illegal drugs on the computer.
Mobley is facing one charge of misdemeanor second-degree stalking and one charge of misdemeanor use of a phone to threaten or harass. Both charges carry a maximum of one year in prison, a $1,000 fine and restitution.
According to court documents, he sent text messages to his ex-girlfriend saying things such as, “I see you. Haha, Look around can you see me? No, of course not, I’m right here. You should probably call the cops. I sure they could help..,” “Nothing you can do either. No one can, you have done it and it’s my turn now. Rot in hell you piece of s—. Game over….”
Mobley reportedly told police he had other people watching his ex-girlfriend so he would know where she was at all times.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for Oct. 4 in Bonneville County court.