205 Arrested In Child Sex Crimes Raid Across SoCal

LOS ANGELES, CA — More than 200 people were arrested in less than a week as part of "Operation Online Guardian," a multi-agency effort in Southern California targeting people who sexually exploit minors using the internet, authorities announced Monday.

The operation, which ran from Aug. 12-23, netted 205 suspects arrested across five counties on various charges ranging from the continuous sexual abuse of a child under 10 to the distribution of child sexual abuse material, the Los Angeles Police Department announced.

"Through (investigators') diligent efforts, vulnerable children were rescued from further abuse, and victims who had been silenced by the atrocious crimes of child sexual abuse found their voices restored," police said. "Justice was served during the Operation Online Guardian as numerous suspects, who sought to prey on our young through social media and chat applications, were apprehended and brought to face the consequences of their actions."

Authorities in the first phase of the operation conducted proactive undercover investigations on various social media platforms. Then, police served search warrants at homes throughout the five counties and executed arrest warrants, police said.

Police said the LA Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force utilized "digital forensic dogs" and the assistance of the LA County Department of Children and Family Service and the LAPD's Gang and Narcotics Division and Vice Units to arrest 205 people on a range of charges, including:

• sodomy of a child under 10
• continuous sexual abuse of a child
• lewd acts with a child
• meeting a minor for lewd purposes/sex
• contact/attempted contact with a minor for sex
• sending obscene matter to a child for sex
• penetration with a foreign object by force or fear
• sodomy
• possession of child sexual abuse material
• distribution of child sexual abuse material
• child annoying
• failure to register as a convicted sex offender
• violation of conditions of parole
• violation of conditions of probation

"Although Operation Online Guardian has concluded, the LA ICAC Task Force will remain vigilant and continue their mission to protect our children," police said. "Despite the numerous resources that assist the LA ICAC Task Force in the battle against the sexual exploitation of children, there are victims who are unnoticed. Therefore, we are asking the community for their help in this fight."

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The LA Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is led by the Los Angeles Police Department and covers LA, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and includes 102 affiliate law enforcement agencies.

It is the region's primary clearing house for reports by citizens and internet service providers of child sexual abuse material and online sexual exploitation of children, police said.

Authorities urged parents to protect their children from the threat of exploitation by education themselves and their children on the dangers of the internet, monitoring kids' web usage and having an open dialogue with children about such threats.

Police said educational tips and activities are available at MissingKids.org.