Kern County Sheriff’s Office Conducts Multi-Day Operation Targeting Suspected Child Predators
November 5, 2025 – Kern County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Detectives Division, in collaboration with the 
Sheriff’s V.E.C.T.O.R. Unit (Violence and Exploitation Counter Trafficking Operations and Response), conducted a multi-day operation from October 29, 2025, aimed at identifying and apprehending suspected child predators operating within the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
This proactive operation resulted in the arrest of four individuals, Dylan Parada age 26, Clayton Dunnaway, age 32, Celso Medina, age 25, and Hector Chavez age 26, who are suspected of attempting to exploit minors. The suspects were taken into custody for multiple felony violations, including:
- Arranging to meet with a juvenile with the intent to engage in sexual activity
- Communicating with a minor with the intent for sex
- Meeting with a minor with the intent for sex
During the course of the investigation, child pornography was also discovered on several electronic devices belonging to the suspects.
The operation was conducted with the assistance of the Shafter Police Department, United States Secret Service/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office Investigations Bureau. These agencies played a critical role in both the online communications and the physical apprehensions of the suspects.
Social media platforms continue to be exploited by predators seeking to target and groom juvenile victims. This operation was strategically timed to coincide with the Halloween weekend, a period when children are more active in the community. The goal was to ensure a safe environment for local youth by removing individuals who pose a threat to their safety.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting children from exploitation and will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners to identify and prosecute those who seek to harm them.
Source: Kern County Sheriff’s Office
