This arrest stems from a three month investigation by the mid-Missouri internet crimes task force, which began by looking into allegations that the suspect was possessing child pornography on his computer.

On January 10, 2008, the mid-Missouri internet crimes task force, Boone County Sheriff's Department, Columbia Police Department, and the US Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement served a search warrant at the suspect's residence at which time numerous items, including a computer, were seized. After confiscating Pereida's computer, police discovered more than five thousand files of child pornography, and photographs and videos of girls being sexually molested by Pereida himself.

Police identified two of the victims, and after speaking with their families decided to charge Pereida with statutory sodomy in addition to sexual exploitation of a minor.

A subsequent examination of that computer located over five thousand files, including both still images and videos, of the sexual molestation of children, most of whom were pre-pubescent. These images and videos were believed to have been downloaded from various internet sites. In addition to this child pornography, numerous photographs were located on the suspect's computer of local children inside the suspect's residence. Several of these photographs and two videos showed a prepubescent female being sexually molested by the suspect in his home.

Police said Pereida's mother, whom he lives with in an apartment at 1515 Walnut Street, often baby-sat children, occasionally leaving them alone with her son. One neighbor said Pereida would play outside with children, but she never suspected a thing.

"I did see him outside with children, riding on his wheelchair, but they were having fun and it seemed like they were just relatives," said neighbor Susan Hailey. "It is disturbing to know that someone would be engaging in that type of activity, because it is shocking."

As the investigation continued, task force investigators were able to identify the child, whose molestation was recorded by the suspect on video and still photographs, and located a second prepubescent female child allegedly sexually molested by the suspect in his home.

The Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force is asking anyone with prepubescent female children who have been at the suspect's residence to talk with their children. If their children indicate the suspect may have inappropriately touched them or taken photographs of the children even partially unclothed, parents should contact the Task Force.

"We are concerned that there could be other victims out there, so we are asking any parents that had any child that may have gone to that house, especially if they were left alone, to talk to their kids, talk to them about touching and inappropriate touching and things of that nature, and if they have any suspicion that something might have happened, we're asking them to contact us," said Detective Andy Anderson, coordinator of the internet crimes task force.