July 19, 2026 – FRESNO, CA – Former corrections sergeant at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Ralph Contreras Jr., 40, was sentenced on Monday, July 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 15 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

Image by Ray Shrewsberry • Ray_Shrewsberry from Pixabay

According to court documents, between September 29, 2024, and January 2, 2025, Contreras received and distributed CSAM through social media apps. He specifically sought out CSAM that depicted prepubescent minors. At the time of his arrest, Contreras was working as a corrections sergeant.

Contreras pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026.

Homeland Security Investigations, the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the DOJ to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue the victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.

Source: DOJ Release