Palm Springs man charged with possessing and uploading child porn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - A 41-year-old Palm Springs man was charged with possessing and uploading child pornography.

Matthew David Pettineo was arrested last week along the 800 Block of Village Square North. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office confirmed that the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team served a search warrant at the address, seizing computers and electronic items, which a computer forensic examiner will examine for further evidence.

On Monday, Pettineo was officially charged with two felony counts, possessing child porn and also trying to upload or sale child porn. He was arraigned in court that afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 12.

Pettineo was arrested back in Aug. 2021 for having images of child exploitation. His arrest was captured in a special I-Team report on the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team.

According to the DA's office, in that case, Pettineo pleaded guilty to the court in April 2022. He was sentenced to 270 days in jail and granted 2 years of formal probation.