Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced the arrest of Cristian Escalera Maldonado, a 31-year-old man from Bonneville County. The arrest was made by investigators with the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit on December 22, 2024. Maldonado faces multiple charges including four counts of sexual battery of a minor aged 16 or 17, one count of lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, and two counts related to child sexual abuse material. He is currently held in Bonneville County jail with bail set at $500,000.
Attorney General Labrador expressed gratitude for the efforts of the ICAC Unit and law enforcement partners across the state. "I am grateful for the hard work of our ICAC Unit and our law enforcement partners around the state," he stated. "Protecting kids from sexual abuse and exploitation is a top priority for all of us. Our children deserve to be safe from these horrible crimes and predators."
The arrest involved collaboration between investigators from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Falls Police Department who are part of the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding child exploitation to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
The Attorney General's ICAC Unit collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies as part of the Idaho ICAC Task Force to address internet-based child exploitation crimes.
Additional resources for parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can be found on their website at ICACIdaho.org.