Camarillo resident charged with possession of and distribution of child pornography
Santa Paula News
Published: August 13, 2008
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Christopher Oswald (DOB 6-21-67), a resident of Camarillo, has been arrested and charged with the possession and distribution of child pornography.
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Christopher Oswald (DOB 6-21-67), a resident of Camarillo, has been arrested and charged with the possession and distribution of child pornography. The investigation and arrest were a joint operation conducted by investigators with the Southern California High Tech Task Force, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Defense.
The investigation originated in 2007 when federal agents began targeting users of major child pornography websites. Oswald’s Internet address came to the attention of ICE agents as having paid for services to a child pornography website.
On July 22, 2008, investigators with the Southern California High Tech Task Force and federal agents executed a search warrant at Oswald’s residence in Camarillo. Items seized during the search warrant operation included a computer, photos, videotapes and other items.
Forensic examination of the computer by members of the Southern California High Tech Task Force revealed the storage of more than 180,000 images. The initial examination of 4,000 images has resulted in the identification of more than 1,000 images suspected of containing child pornography. The collection of child pornography dates back to 1998 and includes digital images, printed images and video footage.
Oswald was arrested without incident on August 6, 2008, as he left Point Mugu Naval Base where he is employed as a telephone installer. He was booked into Ventura County Jail, where bail was set at $250,000. The increased bail was requested by investigators based on the seriousness of the alleged crimes and to ensure public safety.
Oswald has been charged with two felony counts of possession of child pornography and one felony count of distribution of child pornography. He was scheduled for arraignment August 7 in courtroom 14. If convicted on all charges, Oswald faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison.
“The lead in this case came about as a result of ICE’s ongoing efforts to target those who use the Internet to access and distribute child pornography,” said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Los Angeles. “As this case clearly shows, those who engage in the sexual exploitation of children should no longer expect the anonymity of cyberspace to protect them.”
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