California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in collaboration with the Madera County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol, announced the results of "To Catch a Predator," an operation targeting online sexual predators. The operation, which spanned three days and concluded on January 18, 2025, led to the arrest of five suspects charged with contacting and meeting minors for sexual purposes.
Attorney General Bonta stated, “The exploitation of children will not be tolerated in California.” He emphasized the seriousness of online predation by referencing estimates from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI that suggest there are 500,000 active online predators each day. Bonta expressed gratitude towards all partners involved in conducting this operation.
Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue also commented on the collaboration: “We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the CA DOJ Human Trafficking Team in Fresno and CA Highway Patrol.” Sheriff Pogue reiterated their commitment to protecting vulnerable populations in Madera County.
CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee highlighted the priority given to child safety: “This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting California’s most vulnerable residents.”
Undercover agents and detectives identified individuals seeking to exploit minors through various social media platforms. These suspects were subsequently arrested and booked into Madera County Jail. They face charges under Penal Code Section 288.3 for contacting a minor for sexual purposes and Penal Code Section 288.4 for meeting with a minor for sexual purposes. The Madera County District Attorney’s Office will handle prosecution.
The CA DOJ Victims’ Services Unit (VSU) offers victim-centered support services statewide, including trauma-informed care tailored to underserved populations. For more information about VSU or assistance, individuals can visit oag.ca.gov/victimservices or contact them via phone or email.
Those needing help related to human trafficking can reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or call 9-1-1 if immediate danger is present.