Newman, CA -
Detectives with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit have arrested a Newman man for possession of child pornography and methamphetamine with intent to sell.
On Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, at 12 noon, investigators arrested 57-year-old Jose Moreno at his place of employment in Livingston, California. The arrest represented the culmination of a case referred to them originally by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC).
Through the preliminary computer forensic investigation, the user was believed to have posted and shared some fifty videos of suspected child pornography. The imagery contained sexually explicit content involving minors believed to be as young as one or two years old.
Detectives utilized their highly specialized training and experience to examine the source, origin, and capability of various Internet provider addresses as a way of furthering their case.
Moreno was arrested without incident in Livingston on Tuesday afternoon. Simultaneously, other law enforcement personnel executed a search warrant at his residence in Newman. Their search revealed approximately seven-ounces of crystal methamphetamine, along with other indicia to suggest Moreno was possessing the suspected narcotics with an intent to sell.
Additional computer forensic investigation suggested he was re-distributing the child pornography, as a means of re-victimizing the same sexual assault minor victims and perpetuating its accessibility online. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives have still not been been able to positively identify any actual victims with whom reside or have previously visited Stanislaus County.
Moreno was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, where he faces child pornography and narcotics possession with intent to sell charges. He is being held in lieu of an excess of $50,000 in total bail for the Ramey warrant and fresh on-view charges and other allegations.
Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling Stanislaus County Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-602-7463. Information leading to eventual prosecution could result in a cash reward. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
We take this moment to remind our community we are committed to protecting those amongst us whom are clearly the most vulnerable. The Sheriff’s Office aims to safeguard children from those who seek to harm and exploit the young and the defenseless.
