Las Vegas NowShaw's Arrest Part of Federal Investigation

Shaw's Arrest Part of Federal Investigation

(Feb. 17) -- Police say a man accused of molesting young girls here in the Valley may have more victims. The arrest was part of a federal child pornography investigation.

Sgt. Russell Shoemaker, with Internet Crimes Against Children, said, "We began our investigation in 2003 into people who were buying child pornography through the Internet."

The investigation called "Operation Predator" led federal immigration and custom enforcement agents to the Las Vegas home near Jones and Vegas. That's where they say 59-year-old Harold Shaw was buying child pornography over the Internet. But when police searched the home, they not only seized Shaw's computer, police say they also found video tapes -- proof that Shaw was not only buying child pornography online, but also making it.

Sgt. Shoemaker continues, "On one of the tapes someone, who appeared to be Shaw, was having sex with what appeared to be a very young child."

Police are now looking for more victims. Shaw was an active member at a neighborhood LDS church where police say Shaw served as a summer camp councilor. Police also believe Shaw home-schooled teens at the church. Fellow church member Doran Atwood says the LDS church does not run background checks on it's members, but adds Shaw had no reason to have one-on-one contact with any child outside of church. Atwood said, "You teach them the lesson at the church on Sundays."

But police did do a background check, which showed Shaw had been previously arrested for sexual assaulting a minor. Police believe the girl seen on the videotape is a relative. But say he could have more victims. Photographs of unknown children were found stored all around his home.

Police are asking anyone with information about Shaw to come forward. You can call Metro Police at 229-3421 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 .

Eyewitness Newscontacted the LDS church, but they declined comment.