Gulfport man arrested, charged with enticement of child to produce sexual content

A 40-year-old Gulfport man was arrested Friday and charged with one count of enticement of a child to produce a visual depiction of sexual conduct.

The Gulfport Police Department announced the arrest of Ian Vohn Pehnke on Tuesday, after a multi-agency investigation.

On Oct. 8, 2025, investigators used a private messaging and dating-style application to engage in an online conversation with an individual, claiming to be a 14-year-old female in Mississippi, according to police.

Police say that throughout the investigation, Pehnke continued communicating with who he believed was the minor and discussed the possibility of participating in a photo shoot, including questions regarding clothing and personal appearance. Investigators discovered Pehnke repeatedly requested photographs from the minor and encouraged her to send images with no clothing.

Pehnke was processed at the Gulfport Police Department and taken to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, where he is being held in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.