California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in collaboration with the Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking Task Force (Sac HTTF), announced the arrest of 11 individuals accused of attempting to contact minors for sexual purposes. The arrests, resulting from a partnership between state and local law enforcement, have been referred to the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office for potential prosecution.
Attorney General Bonta stated, "I have a simple message for all those who target children for sex online: If you go after children in California, we’ll go after you." He emphasized that child sexual abuse will not be tolerated and expressed gratitude to partners dedicated to community safety.
Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester highlighted the importance of their partnership with Sac HTTF in combating human trafficking. She remarked, "By working alongside our local, state, and federal partners, we are attacking this crisis from every angle."
Bryan Bishop, Deputy Chief of the Office of Correctional Safety at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), expressed pride in being part of the task force. He noted CDCR's commitment to holding traffickers accountable.
The operation involved undercover law enforcement personnel posing as minors on various websites to identify suspects. Those arrested allegedly used explicit language and sent graphic photos before arranging meetings with what they believed were minors. The sting targeted individuals across Stanislaus County.
Conducted by Sac HTTF along with other agencies such as Turlock Police Department and CDCR, the suspects face multiple felony charges including lewd conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography.
Child sexual abuse remains a significant issue according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Online enticement is an increasing problem where children may be groomed or meet someone face-to-face for sexual purposes through various online platforms.
Research indicates that many instances of child sexual abuse go unreported. Estimates suggest about 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys experience such abuse in the United States. Most cases involve someone known to the victim or their family.
It is important to remember that criminal charges are allegations until proven guilty.