YouTuber Austin Jones, known for his acapella scene covers, has admitted to soliciting sexually explicit videos from underage fans.
The 24-year-old has been released from a Chicago federal court on a US$100 000 bond. He has been ordered to stay in his mother’s home at all times until his trial.
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According to a document released by CBS Chicago, Jones admitted to using Facebook to engage in sexually explicit conversations with some of his followers.
“He directed them to make videos of themselves dancing in a sexually explicit way and instructed them on what to wear, say, and do in the videos, including performing sexual acts, knowing that they were fourteen to fifteen years old,” the document reads.
One of the victims claims that he asked her to talk about her age “the whole time”.
Jones allegedly used his pull as their idol to coerce them into making and sending videos. In one of the chats revealed in the complaint, Jones repeatedly told another victim how “lucky” she was that he was talking to her.
YouTuber Austin Jones has over 540 000 subscribers and his most popular videos often got over one million views
The YouTuber has over 540 000 subscribers and his most popular videos often got over one million views. His most popular, a cover of Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance, garnered 5.5-million.
The singer was accused of pedophilic behaviour back in 2015, but assured via Facebook that the requests never went further than asking the girls to twerk.
Last week, Jones was arrested from his home. He faces two felony counts of production of child pornography. A guilty conviction would require a minimum of fifteen years in prison each.
YouTubers alike have come out to condemn his actions. Popular makeup channel Glam&Gore used her platform of one million subscribers to call out the behaviour, and to offer help to any girls who may be ensnared in the same manipulation techniques.
Another YouTuber Aurora Skies posted her own video detailing how Jones allegedly asked her for videos.
“Imagine your actual idol messaging you, having a conversation with them and then you get their phone number,” she writes in the description.
“That’s exactly what happened to me, except it didn’t end well.”
