Suffolk County Police say that a Lindenhurst man, who posed on social media as a female dance instructor to elicit inappropriate videos from girls, was arrested on Wednesday for possessing child pornography after following a tip from police in Fort Worth, Texas.
Digital Forensics Unit detectives went to the North Indiana Avenue home of Taner Ocal after Texas police tipped them off about sexually explicit conversations he had with two 10-year-old girls from the state on social media and through text messages. The girls notified Fort Worth police of their interactions with Ocal, which occurred in May and June of 2024.
During the investigation it was determined Ocal had child pornography on his cell phone as well as text messages with several underage girls, police said in a report. Ocal communicated with the girls online via Instagram handle @baddiedancehouse by posing as a female dance instructor and offering the girls help with their dancing abilities in exchange for inappropriate videos.
Ocal, 22, was charged with Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Child, a class E Felony, and Promoting a Sexual Performance of a Child, a class D Felony.
Ocal pled not guilty in Central Islip court on July 11th, according to records. Bail was set with for $25,000.00 cash or $50,000.00 insured bond. He is due back in court on August 20th in Riverhead.
The investigation is continuing, and detectives are looking into if Ocal was speaking to underage girls in other areas besides Texas. Detectives are asking anyone with additional information or if you believe you are a victim to call the Digital Forensics Unit at 631-852-6279.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Photo: SCPD.
