Newman man arrested for downloading child porn, soliciting Oklahoma minor, police say
A Newman man was arrested Thursday after using Snapchat to have sexually explicit exchanges with a minor and admitting to downloading child pornography, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation last year after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children pointed deputies toward explicit media of children possibly connected to an IP address in Newman, according to a press release. A local investigator also found two additional cyber tips linking back to the same IP address.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for a home in the 2100 block of Denali Park Court after connecting it with the IP address they were investigating.
During the search, detectives found sexually explicit media involving children on the cell phone of 26-year-old Cesar Gallardo, according to the release.
During an interview with detectives, Gallardo admitted to accessing and downloading the media, the release said. The press release said he “even wrote an apology letter for his crimes.”
Investigators continued to search electronic devices seized while serving the warrant, the release said. Through that search, they discovered Gallardo was allegedly using Snapchat to direct a minor in Oklahoma for explicit images, videos and text messages.
The Sheriff’s Office contacted Homeland Security in Stockton, which worked with Oklahoma counterparts to locate the minor. Oklahoma authorities found the minor and confirmed their identity, as well as the exchanges with Gallardo.
Homeland Security in Oklahoma then obtained a federal indictment and federal arrest warrant.
Gallardo was arrested Thursday at the Newman residence and taken into federal custody. He is expected to be extradited to Oklahoma for child sexual exploitation charges.
This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 7:35 AM.
