Authorities say more child victims possible in sexual exploitation case

LAS CRUCES - Authorities say they're looking for additional children who may have been victims of sexual exploitation in connection to an ongoing criminal case.

In October, the Office of the Attorney General Internet Crimes Against Children Unit referred a cyber tip to Homeland Security Investigations and the Las Cruces Police Department that led to a search warrant at the residence of John Henry Bevel Jr. in Las Cruces.

On Oct. 24, John Henry Bevel Jr., 42, was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of children and was taken into federal custody. Southern New Mexico authorities have identified nine victims so far in Las Cruces, and they believe there may be additional victims in Albuquerque or Silver City, where Bevel lived prior to moving to Las Cruces.

Read:Las Cruces man charged with sexually abusing teens

Bevel lived in Albuquerque in 2014 and is believed to have moved for a short time to Silver City after that. He then moved to Las Cruces.

Anyone with information about children that may have been victimized by Bevel should immediately call the Office of the Attorney General at 505-717-3542 or La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services at 575-524-3437.

"This is an active investigation and we believe there could be more child victims in the Albuquerque and Las Cruces areas," said Attorney General Hector Balderas in a news release. "I am urging anyone with information about potential child victims to contact my office immediately."

Bevel lives in the 1000 block of McFie Avenue, according to police.