Cottonwood man arrested on sex offense charges for third time in 2020

Cody John Shanks

Cody John Shanks

CAMP VERDE — Arrested twice in January for multiple sex offenses, Cody John Shanks, 29, was arrested again June 17 and booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including five counts of distribution of minor in sexual condition and sexual indecency/sexual contact.

On June 17, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office detectives followed up on a child exploitation tip identifying a Cottonwood address where Shanks resides.

According to a news release from Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the information from this tip involved activity following the release of Shanks from jail.

It was also discovered the $75,000 bond from his prior case had been reduced to $10,000 and in early March of 2020, he posted bail and was released, the Yavapai County Sherriff’s Office stated. Search warrants were served to obtain additional details regarding the Internet account beyond the initial tip.

“Detectives found a video chat between Shanks and another user with Shanks sharing a naked image of himself and two images of child pornography involving pre-pubescent girls,” the news release stated. “Shanks comments about his desire to sexually engage those children shown in the images.”

Under authority of a search warrant, detectives went to Shanks home on South Pinto Trial, but he was not home at the time and refused to speak with detectives on the phone, the news release stated.

“He was found shortly thereafter following a traffic stop near the residence and taken into custody,” the release stated. “When confronted with the evidence of child exploitation images in his possession, he refused to discuss the matter.”

Electronic devices were seized from Shanks’ home and vehicle during the investigation, according to Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

Shanks is now being held without bond.


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