Former Nanny Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children

CLEVELAND - Today, a former Northeast Ohio nanny was charged by criminal complaint with sexual exploitation of children, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2251(a), and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2252(a)(2).

According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, Molly Duncan, 25, of Beachwood, Ohio, was employed as a nanny and is alleged to have created sexual abuse materials of toddler-aged victims in their Northeast Ohio homes in 2024, and distributed the materials to others in 2024 and 2025. During a search of the defendant's residence, authorities seized several electronic devices that were found to contain child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also known as child pornography.

If convicted of sexual exploitation of children, Duncan faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to 30 years. If convicted of distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, she faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, up to 20 years.

This case is being investigated by the Cleveland Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio.

Anyone with knowledge and information about this matter, please call the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 216-698-3151.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.