Online Child Exploitation Arrests Across Southern California – NBC Los Angeles

On Monday, authorities announced that more than 200 people have been arrested in Southern California for online child sexual exploitation, the result of a joint, multi-agency law enforcement operation.

Through Operation Online Guardian, suspects were arrested on various charges of child sexual exploitation, including continuous sexual abuse of a child, indecent exposure to a child, and contact or attempted contact with a minor for sex.

The operation, involving the Los Angeles Police Department and more than 100 agencies in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, was conducted August 12-23 as part of the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (LA ICAC) task force led by the LAPD.

“Together, we will continue to stand strong against predators who seek to sexually exploit children and work tirelessly to create a safer environment for all,” LAPD Chief of Detectives Alan Hamilton said at a news conference Monday.

The task force reminded parents about internet safety and the importance of open dialogue with their children.

“Parents and caregivers can help protect their children by educating themselves and their children about the dangers of the Internet by monitoring your children’s Internet usage,” said LAPD Capt. Jay Mastick. “By reporting potential child abuse activity, you are giving a potential victim a voice.”

Hamilton said the operation was carried out in two phases:

• The first phase involved proactive undercover investigations on various social media platforms.
• The second phase involved the service of multiple search warrants in the five provinces, as well as arrest warrants, primarily targeting child abusers.

The LA ICAC Task Force was comprised of personnel from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Gang and Narcotics Unit, and various Los Angeles Police Department vice units.

Arrests were made for offences including:

• Sodomy of a child under 10 years of age
• Ongoing sexual abuse of a child
• Ongoing sexual abuse of a child
• Indecent acts with a child
• Meeting a minor for indecent purposes/sex
• Contact/attempted contact with minor for sex
• Sending obscene matter to a child for sex
• Penetration with a foreign object due to force or fear
• Sodomy
• Possession of child abuse material
• Distribution of child abuse material
• Child annoying
• Do not register as a convicted sex offender
• Violation of conditions of parole
• Violation of the terms of the probationary period

According to Hamilton, specific arrest figures for individual counties are not immediately available.

Although Operation Online Guardian has concluded, Hamilton promised that the LA ICAC Task Force will remain vigilant and continue its mission to protect children.

For more information, visit www.Missingkids.org/NetSmartz for educational Internet safety tips and activities.

The community can report potential child sexual abuse and have the harmful content removed through the ‘Take it Down’ service hosted at www.takeitdown.ncmec.org.

City News Service contributed to this report.