Bail reduced for ex-cop accused of posing as porn producer

Ogden • Bail was reduced Tuesday for a former Tremonton police officer accused of creating a fake pornography email account and convincing a teen girl to send him nude photos.

Jeremy Rose, 37, was charged earlier this month in Box Elder County's 1st District Court with 16 charges: ten counts of second-degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of third-degree felony voyeurism, one count of third-degree felony dealing in materials harmful to minor, one count each of third-degree felonies obstruction of justice and communications fraud, along with one count of misdemeanor stalking.

After his initial appearance last week, the case was transferred to Ogden's 2nd District Court, as the judge in Box Elder County recused himself from the case because he is acquainted with Rose through his police employment.

On Tuesday, attorneys stipulated to a bail reduction for the former law enforcement officer, bringing his bail amount from $145,000 to $75,000. As part of the stipulation, Rose agrees to stay away from children under the age of 18, to not access the Internet and to have no contact with the alleged victim's family, according to his attorney, Camille Neider.

Second District Judge Scott Hadley granted the request, despite victim advocate Heidi Nestel telling him that while the attorneys agreed to the lowered bail, the alleged victim has reservations.

"She did not want to give you an exact number," Nestel told the judge. "[But Rose] having been in law enforcement for many years, and the elaborate scheme that took place, my client is very careful with him."

Rose will be back in court on June 3, where he is expected to decide whether he wants a preliminary hearing.

The Utah Attorney's General Office began investigating Rose last May. According to a probable cause statement filed in court, Rose allegedly told a then-15-year-old girl that she could make some money by submitting photos to the pornography website Brazzers.

Rose then allegedly told the teen to send nude and partially nude photos to an email address that he said belonged to a Brazzers employee named "Tom." But prosecutors allege that the email account was fake — created by Rose to solicit the photos from the teen.

The teen told investigators later that she sent about 150 nude photos of herself to "Tom," who told her that the pictures would not be posted online, but would be purchased in private by individuals. She did receive some money from the photos from Rose, prosecutors allege, under the guise that Rose was the go-between for the teen and "Tom."

Investigators later found 197 nude or partially nude images of the girl in an online file hosting site, Drop Box. The Drop Box account was registered under the email address Rose is accused of creating, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors also allege that Rose had thousands of images of the teen that had been surreptitiously taken of her while she was in her bedroom after a shower or bath.

Rose was arrested last June on suspicion of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, but charges were not filed until earlier this month.

Tremonton police officials said Rose has not been employed with them since last July.

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller