17-year-old charged with first degree murder, child pornography crimes in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A juvenile is charged with multiple crimes by the Shawnee County District Attorney's Office Tuesday, including murder and sexual exploitation of a child.

The Shawnee County DA's Office announced in a press release that it is charging Joshua M. Mitchiner, 17, for multiple crimes. He was initially charged as a juvenile on Oct. 18, 2023 and waived to adult status on April 10, 2024.

• Murder in the first degree; intentionally dangerous felony
• Murder in the second degree; reckless
• Aggravated robbery; bodily harm
• Murder in the first degree; premeditation
• Murder in the second degree; intentional
• Eight counts of sexual exploitation of a child; visual depiction of a child under 18

Katie Garceran with the Shawnee County DA's Office says police were called to the 2000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue on reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, police found a victim, later identified as 17-year-old Victor N. Carlton, in the area. He was killed following a gunshot wound to the chest.

A follow-up investigation found Mitchiner drove the same type of car found on security cameras in the area at the time of the shooting. A search warrant was issued for his phone where officers found photos of child pornography. He was arrested on Oct. 17, 2023.

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