3 Utah men likely facing extradition

Louisiana weighing child porn charges from Mardi Gras trip

By Ben Winslow
Deseret News
Published: October 14, 2008
Three Utah men are facing possible extradition to Louisiana, accused of manufacturing child pornography for a Web site that mimics the notorious "Girls Gone Wild" videos.

Bryan Clark Christensen, 22, and Ian Walston, 31, have waived extradition in Utah's 3rd District Court. They both face a review hearing Thursday.

Court records indicate David Atiquallah Khwaja, 23, also has waived extradition and will have a review hearing in Utah's 3rd District Court on Oct. 21.

All three are charged in Utah with being a fugitive from justice from another state.

The three men face charges in connection with videos made featuring sexual acts with underage girls, called "Hot Girls Unleashed."

The Utah Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began investigating the case after Draper police responded to a loud party call earlier this year. Inside an RV parked in front of a house, police found cameras, tapes, computers — and a pair of scantily clad underage girls, said ICAC agent Steve Gamvroulas.

"They questioned the girls and determined they were underage and took the girls and seized the motor home," he said. "They got search warrants and took a look at the tapes that were in the van. There's stuff around town, then they're in Mardi Gras."

Police believe the three drove to Mardi Gras in the RV, which was stocked with liquor, to make videos for the Web site Walston ran called "Hot Girls Unleashed."

"They were trying to set up a business similar to the 'Girls Gone Wild' business model," Gamvroulas said. "They had clothing items, undergarments with their logo on it."

On the tape, Gamvroulas described video of a stripper in the RV and some adult women who engaged in sexual activity, but whose IDs were also photographed as proof they were of age. But also on the tapes were girls who appeared underage.

Gamvroulas analyzed the tape and was able to track down the girls' high school in Louisiana. Authorities there found the 16- and 17-year-old girls, questioned them and pushed for charges to be filed.

Walston is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, juvenile pornography and indecency with a juvenile. Christiansen and Khwaja face additional charges of carnal knowledge with a juvenile.

Walston's attorney, Susanne Gustin, told the Deseret News that her client intended to have only adult women involved and took steps to verify their IDs.

"They would videotape the girl's face and video her ID," Gustin said. "They were very careful in verifying ages. The girls involved said they were in college."

Gamvroulas said ICAC is still investigating the case and whether any illegal sexual acts with juveniles took place in Utah. The equipment seized is high-end and requires specialized equipment to view.

Gustin said she was confident Walston, who she said was not involved in sexual acts, would not face any additional charges.

Contributing: Linda Thomson

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com