May 10, 2021 - The Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) through the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) regarding possession and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Imagery that was uploaded to the internet in Madera County.

Detectives began their investigation and on Thursday May 6, 2021, with the assistance of the Merced County District Attorney’s Office ICAC Investigators, they contacted 18-year-old Merced County resident Geraldo Vega Castaneda of El Nido, CA. During the course of their investigation, it was determined the imagery was uploaded by Castaneda while visiting his relative’s house in Madera.

Castaneda was taken into custody and booked at the Madera County Department of Corrections for felony possession and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse imagery.

Sheriff Tyson Pogue states, “I am proud of the swift investigation by our detectives that resulted in this arrest. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office thanks the investigative team at the Merced County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance and shared commitment to relentlessly pursuing offenders who utilize the internet to victimize children.”

This investigation remains ongoing. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with information regarding this case or potential victims to please contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at 559-675-7770.

Source & photo credit: Madera County Sheriff’s Office