KMEX Univision's Oswaldo Borraez interviewing "Miguel," the husband of alleged child pornographer Letha Montemayor. Listen to the raw interview here.



LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A federal court appearance was delayed until  tomorrow afternoon for a San Fernando Valley woman accused of posing in 11-year- old photos depicting child pornography.

Letha Mae Montemayor, 52, was arrested outside a North Hills apartment  complex around 7:30 p.m. Thursday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement  Homeland Security Investigations agents and Los Angeles Police Department  officers, ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said.

The arrest came less than 10 hours after federal authorities released  photographs of an unidentified man and woman, known only as ``Jane Doe'' and  ``John Doe,'' being sought in connection with a child sexual exploitation case.  Federal officials held a news conference Thursday asking for help identifying  the suspects, who were believed to have taken the photos in the San Fernando  Valley.

By 2 p.m., someone had called the ICE tip line, and more tips followed,  leading authorities to Montemayor, officials said. She is charged in a federal  criminal complaint with one count of production of child pornography and one  count of conspiracy to produce child pornography, Kice said.

Montemayor was initially expected to face a federal judge for the first  time today, but prosecutors said the appearance had been put off for 24 hours.

U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said the arrest of Montemayor ``brings  us one step closer to vindicating the victim and helping to regain some dignity  for all victims of child exploitation crimes.''

The charges involve a widely circulated series of child porn images  believed to have been taken about 11 years ago in Encino and elsewhere in the  region. The identity and whereabouts of the man involved in the case, believed  to be between 40 and 50 years of age, had yet to be determined.

Officials said tips from the public have come in regarding the male  suspect, whose face had been purposely obscured in images acquired and  displayed by agents.

``We still want the public's help in identifying John Doe and the victim  in the disturbing series of images that continue to be circulated on the  Internet,'' Birotte said.

The pictures in the case show a male and female adult sexually molesting  a girl who appears to be about 13. The identity of the girl has not been  determined.

Montemayor's son, Paul Tucker, told KCAL9 he met the alleged victim when  he was living with his mother, but she was not a minor.

``She was 18 ... just looked real young, but over 18,'' Tucker told the  station.

Tucker said his mother was working as a prostitute at the time the  photos were taken, and Montemayor knew the alleged victim's mother.

             

her and that maybe my mom had gotten in a fight with her mother,'' Tucker told  Channel 9. ``... She said her mother had left her high and dry with a drug  habit.''

He said he did not know the man shown in the photos, but said he may  have been a potential client.

Anyone with information or tips that can assist the investigation was  urged to call (866) 347-2423 or access the ICE website.