Posts Tagged ‘child abuse’

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Michigan Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Participating in Child Pornography Ring and Producing Child Pornography

Friday, January 27th, 2012

RIVERSIDE, California – A Michigan man was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison for filming his sexual abuse of a young boy and distributing a video to members of an international child exploitation enterprise.

Joshua Boras, 34, of Lapeer, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips. In December 2010, Boras pleaded guilty to one count of participation in a child exploitation enterprise and one count of production of child pornography.

The sentencing of Boras was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. and Assistant Director in Charge Steve Martinez of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Boras was affiliated with the “Lost Boy” online bulletin board, which according to court documents and proceedings was dedicated to men who have a sexual interest in young boys and was established to provide a forum to trade child pornography. Federal authorities, working in conjunction with a coalition of international law enforcement agencies, shut down the Lost Boy bulletin board approximately three years ago. As a result of the investigation, 16 named defendants were charged in the United States and arrested for their roles in the bulletin board. To date, 15 defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial, and one defendant died in custody.

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MOTHER FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING DAUGHTER AFTER GIVING BIRTH AND DUMPING BABY IN RESTAURANT DUMPSTER

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

SANTA ANA - A mother faces trial tomorrow for murdering her infant baby right after giving birth and discarding the baby’s corpse in a dumpster.  Juana Perez Valencia, 21, Anaheim, is charged with one felony count of murder and one felony count of assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

In the evening on Dec. 22, 2009, Valencia is accused of giving birth to a baby girl in the restroom of Sombrero’s, a Mexican restaurant in Stanton where she was working as a food server.  The full-term baby girl was born alive, weighed 6.3 pounds, and was 17 inches long.

The defendant is accused of murdering the baby by suffocating her to death immediately after giving birth. She is accused of then putting Baby Doe in a plastic bag and throwing her body in a dumpster behind the restaurant.

The following day, Valencia is accused of going to an Anaheim hospital for treatment. She is accused of claiming to have been hurt in a fall and denied having given birth, despite a determination by hospital staff that she had recently given birth to a full-term baby. The hospital contacted the Anaheim Police Department (APD), who began investigating this case.

APD determined that the defendant worked in Stanton, in the jurisdiction of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), and may have discarded the baby’s body near her work. OCSD took over the investigation and discovered Baby Doe’s body in the dumpster the day after the murder.

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Orange County Man Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison for Filming Sexually Explicit Videos of an 8-Year-Old Girl

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

LOS ANGELES – A previously convicted sex offender from Huntington Beach was sentenced today to 312 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child pornography for filming sexually explicit videos of an 8-year-old girl.

Gary Samuel Cochran, 53, was sentenced this afternoon by United States District Judge Dean D. Pregerson pursuant to a plea agreement Cochran entered into last year.

Cochran pleaded guilty in September to one count of production of  child pornography, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years in federal prison.  In the plea agreement, Cochran admitted that he produced sexually explicit videos of the 8-year-old victim while on a trip to the beach with the girl and her family in 2007. When authorities searched Cochran’s residence in 2008, they discovered the videos of the victim, as well as “hundreds of videos and images depicting what defendant knew was child pornography.”

Cochran previously was convicted of child molestation in Orange County Superior Court in 1991.

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Riverside County Man Arrested for Possessing, Receiving, and Distributing Child Pornography Via File-Sharing Network

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

A Homeland man has been arrested on federal charges alleging he used a file sharing network to receive, possess, and distribute child pornography, announced Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

George Devinna, 73, was arrested Monday by FBI agents after being named in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Riverside on December 9. During his initial court appearance Monday afternoon, Devinna was ordered detained without bond. An arraignment date is scheduled for January 18 at 9:30 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Riverside.

The complaint charges Devinna with the possession, distribution, and receipt of child pornography. If convicted on all charges, Devinna faces a statutory maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.

Earlier this year, agents conducting an investigation of illegal file-sharing networks in Rochester, New York, and Los Angeles uncovered several images depicting child pornography. Further investigation and subsequent Internet subscriber checks identified the distributor of the illicit images as George Devinna, with an address that matched the defendant’s Homeland address. The downloaded images linked to Devinna’s computer included sexually explicit photographs of pre-teen boys.

On December 2, 2011, a search warrant was executed at Devinna’s Homeland residence, where he resides alone. During the search, agents found child pornography and other evidence linking Devinna to the file sharing network. Files found on Devinna’s computer included sexually explicit videos involving pre-teen boys that investigators recognized as part of a documented child pornography series.

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8 Inland Empire Child Pornography Suspects Arrested by ICE Agents

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Ontario man allegedly possessed more than 500,000 explicit images

RIVERSIDE, California –  An Ontario pipefitter, who allegedly amassed one of the largest collections of child pornography ever found, is among eight Inland Empire men arrested this morning by federal agents as part of a coordinated enforcement effort targeting the possession and trafficking of child pornography.

Michael Peterson, 58, was taken into custody at his residence this morning by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Peterson is charged in a three-count criminal complaint with possessing, receiving and distributing child pornography. In July, ICE HSI agents executed a search warrant at Peterson’s home and seized several computer hard drives and a laptop computer. A forensic analysis of those devices revealed more than 500,000 images and 7,500 videos of suspected child pornography. Peterson initially came under suspicion based on a lead obtained during an undercover investigation by Delaware-based HSI agents targeting a peer-to-peer file sharing network.

“Child exploitation crimes victimize the most vulnerable members of our society,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “The victimization of children for sexual purposes is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, and that is why prosecuting child predators is one of the top priorities of the Justice Department.”

Debra Parker, the assistant special agent in charge for ICE HSI in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, stated: “Every time these illegal images are produced, transmitted or viewed, a child is victimized. We owe it to the young victims in these cases to pursue the offenders aggressively, since many of the children who are sexually exploited by those who produce child pornography will bear the emotional scars for rest of their lives.”

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MOTHER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SUFFOCATION-DEATH OF 2-MONTH-OLD BABY AFTER MULTI-HOUR HALLOWEEN DRINKING BINGE

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

ANA - A mother will be arraigned tomorrow for killing her 2-month-old baby by allowing him to suffocate in a pile of clothes after a multi-hour drinking binge on Halloween. Corrina Atuatasi, 27, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter by lawful act in unlawful manner, one felony count of child abuse, and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison. The People will be requesting Atuatasi be held on $100,000 bail at her arraignment tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

On the night of Oct. 30, 2011, the defendant is accused of being solely responsible for the care of her 2-month-old baby Aiden Galeai while her husband and 2-year-old daughter were away visiting family.  Atuatasi is accused of leaving the infant alone in her Garden Grove apartment and going outside into the courtyard to smoke a cigarette.

While outside smoking, the defendant is accused of running into a male neighbor and joining him and his two friends for drinks in the neighbor’s apartment. She is accused of leaving baby Aiden alone in her apartment while she consumed alcohol in another apartment. The defendant is accused of returning to her apartment a short while later, placing the victim in a car seat, and returning with the baby to her neighbor’s apartment to continue drinking. She is accused of leaving the baby in a bedroom for several hours as she drank alcohol with the three men.

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2011, Atuatasi is accused of returning home to her apartment with baby Aiden. She is accused of being severely intoxicated and failing to ensure the health and safety of her baby. She is accused of neglecting the infant, who ended up face-down in a pile of clothing. It is unclear at this time if the baby was dropped on the pile as the defendant returned home or kicked off the bed into the pile by the defendant as she slept. Atuatasi is accused of killing baby Aiden, who suffocated to death.

At approximately 6:00 a.m., the defendant is accused of waking up and calling 911 to report that she could not find her baby. After calling the police, Atuatasi is accused of finding the victim face-down in a pile of clothes and moving him to the bed. The Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) responded to the scene and found baby Aiden dead on the bed.

At approximately 8:00 a.m., Atuatasi is accused of having a blood alcohol level on .23 percent.

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Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Nicholas James Ferguson was sentenced today in federal court in San Diego by United States District Court Judge John A. Houston to serve 130 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, based upon his conviction for receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2). Ferguson tendered his guilty plea on March 17, 2011.

According to the court records, Ferguson admitted that between March 22, 2010 and October 14, 2010, he knowingly received visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Houston noted that Ferguson was previously convicted of a sex offense involving a 9-year-old. At the time of his arrest, Ferguson was a registered sex offender. “This sentence sends a message that recidivist child sex offenders, including those who continue to sexually exploit children through child pornography, will not be tolerated in this community,” stated United States Attorney Duffy.

This case stems from an investigation by the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), whose members include the Chula Vista Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the United States Attorney’s Office, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service, the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the National City Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, the Oceanside Police Department, the El Cajon Police Department, and the San Diego State University PoliceDepartment. For additional information regarding ICAC, please visit www.sdicac.org

These cases are being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Case Number: 11cr0805-JAH

DEFENDANT
Nicholas James Ferguson
Age: 29
San Diego, California

SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(2) (Receipt of Child Pornography)

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MAN CONVICTED OF BREAKING INTO FORMER NEIGHBOR’S HOME THROUGH BEDROOM WINDOW AND GETTING IN BED WITH 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

SANTA ANA - A man was convicted today of breaking into the home of his former neighbor through a bedroom window and climbing into bed with a 10-year-old girl. Cesar Sotelo, 22, Stanton, pleaded guilty to a court offer to one felony count of first degree residential burglary with the intent to commit a sexual offense and an allegation for a non-accomplice present during a residential burglary. He was sentenced to two years in state prison.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Aug. 7, 2011, Sotelo broke into the home of his former neighbor in Stanton. He crawled through a window into a bedroom, which 10-year-old Jane Doe shared with her brother, and climbed into Jane Doe’s bed while the two children slept.

Jane Doe awoke and Sotelo offered her $25, wrapped his arms around her, and touched her leg over her clothing. The victim began to struggle, waking her brother, who ran from the room to get their father. Jane Doe’s father ran in to the bedroom and grabbed the defendant, who struggled to get away and fled through the same bedroom window.

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MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING GIRLFRIEND’S 9-MONTH-OLD SON WHILE BABYSITTING BY CRUSHING BABY’S HEAD AGAINST WALL

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

SANTA ANA - A man was convicted today of murdering his girlfriend’s 9-month-old son by causing fractures to the child’s skull to make him stop crying.  Alexander Lucas Barnes, 20, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of second degree murder and one felony count of child abuse resulting in death. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Jan. 13, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On Oct. 6, 2009, Barnes was babysitting his girlfriend’s 9-month-old baby Isaiah Prim-Ortiz for the first time while his girlfriend went to class at a nearby community college. Barnes was the primary caregiver for the victim while at the defendant’s mother’s house. The defendant was not baby Isaiah’s biological father.

Late that morning, the defendant became angry with the victim for crying. He abused the baby by crushing the victim’s head against a wall, causing blunt force trauma and multiple fractures to both sides of the head. The defendant then put the victim back in his crib. Baby Isaiah was fatally injured and stopped breathing.

Shortly after 1:00 p.m., the defendant’s mother went to check on baby Isaiah and discovered that he was not breathing. The victim was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead at 4:07 p.m. as a result of multiple skull fractures.

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FIVE JAIL INMATES CONVICTED OF BEATING-MURDER OF FELLOW INMATE BELIEVED TO BE IN CUSTODY FOR CHILD MOLEST

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

* Three additional defendants were previously convicted and sentenced; charges are pending against a fourth

SANTA ANA - An Orange County jury convicted five jail inmates today of the beating-murder of a fellow Theo Lacy Facility (Theo Lacy) inmate believed to be a child molester. Garrett Eugene Aguilar, 29, Anaheim, Stephen Paul Carlstrom, 43, Anaheim, Jared Louis Petrovich, 27, Tustin, Miguel Guillen, 48, Santa Ana, and Raul Villafana, 25, Santa Ana, were each found guilty of one felony count of second degree murder. They face a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. Their sentencing date is to be determined.

Three co-defendants were previously convicted in this case. Michael Stewart Garten, 26, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty Jan. 11, 2011, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. Christopher Teague, 35, Long Beach, and Jeremy Dezso Culmann, 27, Corona, pleaded guilty Jan. 18, 2011, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and were each sentenced to 15 years in state prison. Co-defendant Eric Charles Miller, 26, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of murder and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Miller is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Nov. 11, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C35, Central Justice Center.

Facts of the Case
In October 2006, Petrovich was the “shot-caller” for the Caucasian prison-controlled gangs barracks where he was housed at Theo Lacy.  Aguilar and Carlstrom were the second and third in command, respectively. Villafana was the “shot-caller” for one of the Hispanic prison-controlled gangs in the same barracks and Guillen was his third in command.

While incarcerated at Theo Lacy, Carlstrom confronted inmate John Chamberlain to determine for what charges Chamberlain was incarcerated. Chamberlain was in custody on misdemeanor possession of child pornography charges. The inmates targeted him because they believed he was a child molester. After questioning the victim, Carlstrom reported back to Petrovich.

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