Neighbors React to Child Pornography Arrests
Nine men were behind bars on Friday facing a list of charges stemming from their alleged involvement in trading child pornography online, according to federal court documents.
A spokesman representing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security departments confirm agents made eight of the arrests Friday morning, which included two in the Coachella Valley.
Ronald Sousa, 67, of Cathedral City, was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing and distributing child pornography.
The man who lives with Sousa, Arturo Chavez, was careful not to share any information. “I cannot say anything because I don’t know what’s going on and I don’t want to make a mess or something,” said Chavez.
Many of Sousa’s neighbors said they were surprised at the charges filed against him. They were also shocked because of the close proximity of his home to an elementary school.
The other man, David Christopher Jelaca, 37, a registered nurse from La Quinta, faces charges of distribution, possession and attempted distribution of child pornography to a minor, as well as charges that he enticed other children to engage in sexual activities.
He first captured the attention of authorities when he posted an ad on Craigslist, using the phrase, “Dirty Daddy who likes to share his daughter’s dirty panties.”
In email exchanges with undercover agents, Jaleca acknowledged having had sexual contact with girls as young as 15 years old and told them he fantasized about girls as young as 12.
As a result, agents searched his La Quinta home, seizing computers disk drives that were found to contain more than 26,000 still images and 55 movie files of suspected child pornography.
What’s perhaps most terrifying is that Jelaca lives in a gated community down the street from a middle school, an elementary school and a YMCA. Annette Palafox works at the YMCA near Jaleca’s community. “That’s scary, that’s scary,” said Palafox. “I know a lot of kids walk around here freely and if he’s just across the street, oh man that’s scary.”
The cases were part of the Department of Justice’s initiative called “Project Safe Childhood,” which brings together federal, state and local law enforcement authorities to track down adults who use the internet to exploit children.
Others arrested during Friday morning’s operation include: Bolivar Arnoldo Guillen, 59, of Rancho Cucamonga, Ronald R. Jaenson, 66, of Colton, John Anthony Serrano, 37, of Barstow, Anthony Starkweather, 20, of Mentone,
Even though the arrests may come as a surprise to the people who know them best, there is no “typical” predator. “There’s no stereotypical predator,” said Carren Robinson, member of the District Attorney’s SAFE team. “Anybody can be a predator, we see teachers, we see doctors, we see police officers we see everything. You just have to be very careful who your children are around, if you feel there’s anything, just don’t leave them with strangers or anybody else. You have to monitor your kids.”
Agents said the charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The charges of distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.
