Arrests for online child exploitation across Southern California – NBC Los Angeles

A multi-agency police operation resulted in more than 200 arrests across Southern California for online child sexual exploitation, authorities said Monday.

As part of Operation Online Guardian, suspects were arrested on a variety of charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, including persistent sexual abuse of a child, sexual activity with a child, and contact or attempted contact with a minor for the purpose of sexual activity.

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

“Together, we continue to stand firm against sex offenders who seek to sexually exploit children and work tirelessly to create a safer environment for all,” LAPD Criminal Investigation Chief Alan Hamilton said at a press conference Monday.

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

“Parents and guardians can help protect their children by educating themselves and their children about the dangers of the Internet by monitoring their children's Internet usage,” said Captain Jay Mastick of the LAPD. “By reporting potential cases of child sexual abuse, you give 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 included the execution of several search warrants across the five boroughs as well as arrest warrants targeting child molesters.

The LA ICAC Task Force included personnel from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division, and various LAPD vice units.

The arrests included the following crimes:

• Sodomy of a child under 10 years
• Continued sexual abuse of a child
• Continued sexual abuse of a child
• Lewd acts with a child
• Meeting minors for indecent purposes/sex
• Contact/attempted contact with minors for the purpose of sexual intercourse
• Sending obscene content to a child for the purpose of sex
• Penetration of a foreign body through violence or fear
• Sodomy
• Possession of child sexual abuse material
• Distribution of child sexual abuse material
• Child is annoying
• Failure to register as a convicted sex offender
• Violation of probation conditions
• Violation of probation conditions

Hamilton said specific numbers on arrests in each county were not immediately available.

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

For more information on internet safety tips and activities at the learning level, visit www.Missingkids.org/NetSmartz.

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

City News Service contributed to this report.