Full Notification

DATE/TIME:            Thursday, July 1, 2021
 
INCIDENT:              PC 273 A(A) Child Endangerment
                               PC 29800 (A) (1) Felon in Possession of a Firearm
                               PC 30600 (A) Manufacturing/Selling Assault Weapons
                               PC 30605 (A) Illegally Possess Assault Weapon
                               PC 33215 Manufacture Short Barrel Rifle
                               PC 33410 Possession of Silencer
                                                    
LOCATION:            City of Victorville                                    
 
SUSPECT:              Joseph Alfredo Tovar, 36 years old, resident of Victorville
                                
SUMMARY: Investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Crimes Against Children Detail (CAC), began an investigation into cyber tips that were reported by Electronic Service Providers (ESP). The cyber tips reported various videos of child pornography were downloaded online. Through investigation, investigators determined the ESP accounts were access from inside a home in Victorville.
 
On Thursday, July 1, 2021, personnel from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Specialized Enforcement Detail (SED), CAC, and the Victorville Sheriff’s Station, contacted Joseph Tovar in Victorville. During a search of Tovar’s home and vehicles, investigators located several illegally manufactured handguns and rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, illegal gun silencers, and equipment to manufacture illegal guns and silencers. Investigators from CAC conducted an interview with Tovar. At the conclusion of the interview, Tovar was arrested for child endangerment, manufacturing assault weapons, felon in possession of a firearms, illegally possess assault weapons, manufacture short barrel rifle, and possession of silencers. Tovar was subsequently booked into High Desert Detention Center and bail was set at $150,000. The investigation into the possession of child pornography is ongoing.
 
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is a member of the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which works cooperatively with a vast network of local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to pursue those who violate crimes of child exploitation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Melony Whitecloud or Detective Brian Arias of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 387-3615. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.    
 
Refer:                      Deputy Melony Whitecloud
Station:                    Specialized Investigation Division - Crimes Against Children Detail
Case No.                 DR# 602100100 C#2021-088
 Phone No.              (909) 387-3615
              
John McMahon, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department