On Monday, the Peoria Police Department announced the arrest of a second suspect in a West Valley child sex crime case.
According to the Peoria Police Department, on August 16, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m., detectives arrested 39-year-old Marina Shmaeil Bethyo, on twenty-two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Possession, Recording, and Distribution) and two counts of Child Abuse.
Marina was in possession of several images and videos believed to contain child sexual abuse material.
Marina was taken into custody without incident. Marina was processed at the Peoria Police Department, and later booked into the Maricopa County Jail.
Detectives discovered Bethyo’s alleged crimes while investigating another Peoria resident, Stiven Awshana, accused of sex crimes.
According to the Peoria Police Department, on July 28, 2024, at approximately 9:15 p.m., detectives with the assistance of Peoria SWAT arrested the 38-year-old Awshana, on twenty-seven counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Possession, Recording, and Distribution), four counts of Molestation of a Child, three counts of Furnishing Harmful Items to Minors, and two counts of Endangerment.
This investigation began on July 26, 2024, when Peoria Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (H.E.A.T) Detectives were contacted by the Phoenix Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) taskforce. Through information received, it was learned Stiven was in possession of several images and videos believed to contain child sexual abuse material.
Stiven was taken into custody without incident. Stiven was processed at the Peoria Police Department, and later booked into the Maricopa County Jail.