Of those arrested, a dozen were local residents while the other five were out-of-county residents. All suspects face charges related to contacting a minor with intent to have sex with them, police said. I am proud of Detective Gina Giovacchini and our team for their efforts to intercept those looking to harm children in our community," Turlock Police Chief Jason Hedden said. Also in Stanislaus County, exploitation was at the center of a year-old's disappearance.
The teen was reported a runaway in August and then found months later, hundreds of miles away in the Idaho home of year-old Cristian Ceja from Turlock. Ceja faces multiple charges including contacting a minor using an electronic device for the purpose of sexual gratification and a misdemeanor for providing shelter to a runaway.
Additional charges may be pending in Idaho and California. The bust was its own operation separate from the teen runaway. Experts say conversation and supervision can help prevent these dangers. The Department of Justice recommends creating a safety plan with children before they get online and talking with them about red flags. Gandhi said.
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