August 20, 2021 - Merced – On August 19, 2021, at 9:13 A.M. Merced PD Detectives served a search warrant in the 300 block of Citadel Avenue in Merced. Detectives received a tip that someone in the residence was downloading child pornography. During the service of the search warrant, it was discovered that the residence was a licensed in-home day care facility.

An unregistered, unsecured, firearm along with ammunition were found in the residence, in an area that was easily accessible to children. It was determined that the firearm belonged to the suspect, Joel Damian Ortega (32) of Merced. Ortega admitted to downloading and distributing child pornography during questioning. Ortega lived at the residence but was not an employee of the day care business.

Ortega was booked into the Merced County Jail for possession of child pornography, child endangerment and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Case Number: 21-32368

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective Adrian at 209-385-4731 or by email at adriana@cityofmerced.org.

Other ways to contact us or report crime include:

For any emergency call or text 911

For non-emergency call 209-385-6912

Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call 209-385-4725

Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html

Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police

Source: Merced Police Department