Representatives from multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies stand alongside Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes during a press conference Aug. 7 at the Sutter County Agricultural Department. Officials gathered to announce the results of Operation Cyber Shield. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Seventeen people from across Northern California were arrested as part of a multiagency undercover operation in Sutter County targeting individuals allegedly seeking to sexually exploit children online.

The Sutter County Sheriff's Office announced the results of “Operation Cyber Shield” Friday, Aug. 7, saying the investigation began with a three-day enforcement operation July 22-24 in which specially trained law enforcement personnel posed online as children age 13 or younger.

Investigators communicated with individuals through various online platforms before allegedly arranging meetings at a local hotel, where suspects arrived believing they were meeting an underage child. The hotel cooperated with law enforcement, but Sheriff Brandon Barnes declined to identify the business at its request.

Twelve people were arrested during the initial three-day operation. Investigators continued communicating with other suspects over the following two weeks, resulting in five additional arrests and bringing the total to 17. All 17 cases have been forwarded to the Sutter County District Attorney's Office for prosecution, Barnes said.

“There's no greater responsibility than protecting our children,” Barnes said. “My hope was that Operation Cyber Shield has a profound impact and hopefully saved a child from being victimized.”

Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes speaks during a press conference Aug. 7 at the Sutter County Agricultural Department, detailing the results of Operation Cyber Shield. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

Those arrested range in age from 18 to 68 and came from communities stretching from Santa Rosa to Turlock. Three are Marysville residents and two are from Yuba City.

The Marysville suspects were Rafael Zamudio, 39; Jason Harmon, 44; and Mauro Lopez-Santiago, 50. Yuba City residents Ricardo Juarez, 18, and Juan Morales-Yepes, 56, were also arrested.

Other suspects include Gary Lloyd Jr., 41, of Sacramento; Torrance Pryor, 29, of Rancho Cordova; Kip Ernst, 52, of Granite Bay; Valintino Cabagua, 65, of Sacramento; Thomas Saetern, 36, of Sacramento; Christopher Shipman, 47, of Gridley; Mario Sandoval-Cervantes, 39, of Lodi; Philbert Maghamil, 26, of Lincoln; Steven Koehler, 68, of Sacramento; Keith Alvis, 40, of Turlock; Sean Margalit, 28, of Oroville; and Jacob Molsberry, 30, of Santa Rosa.

The suspects face varying charges, including contacting or communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense, arranging meetings with minors or people believed to be minors for the purpose of committing lewd acts, attempted lewd or lascivious acts involving children 14 or younger and distributing harmful material to minors.

Barnes explained that the charges vary depending on the alleged conduct. Contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense is a felony, while agreeing to meet a minor for lewd or lascivious behavior can constitute a misdemeanor. Arriving at an arranged meeting place with the intent of committing a sexual act can result in a felony charge.

Several suspects face additional allegations listed in the Sheriff's Office media packet, including offenses related to the production of obscene material. Other arrests included allegations involving resisting officers, controlled substances or weapons.

“As I watched and I listened to this operation play out in real time over the course of three days, I was sickened to think that there are predators out there that are so comfortable doing this type of behavior that it occurred to me they may have actually met up with a minor at some point, potentially victimized somebody,” Barnes said.

Approximately 50 to 60 law enforcement personnel participated on each of the three primary days of the operation. The effort involved the Sutter County Sheriff's Office along with numerous local, state and federal agencies, including the Yuba City and Marysville police departments, Yuba County Sheriff's Office, Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, Sacramento Police Department, Placer County Sheriff's Office, Chico Police Department, Turlock Police Department, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Homeland Security Investigations and the Sacramento Valley High-Tech Crimes Task Force, among others.

Barnes said the operation required months of preparation and was first brought to his attention approximately three months before it began. The Sheriff's Office had previously participated in similar operations conducted by other agencies and decided to organize one locally after seeing their results.

Investigators executed approximately 14 to 16 search warrants during the investigation, primarily involving electronic devices such as cellphones, as well as several laptop computers. Authorities also preserved communications between the suspects and undercover investigators, including messages and, in some cases, photographs.

Prosecutors were involved during the operation and reviewed evidence as the investigation unfolded. Barnes said each arrest was vetted with the Sutter County District Attorney's Office beforehand to ensure investigators had sufficient cause to take the suspects into custody.

Sutter County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Greeson cautioned that the arrests mark the beginning of the prosecution process and that those arrested are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

“Now the hard part for our office starts, and that involves charging and going through the entire court process,” Greeson said.

Law enforcement officials declined to identify the specific online platforms used during the investigation, saying disclosure could compromise similar investigations underway elsewhere. Instead, Barnes urged parents to familiarize themselves with the social media, messaging and gaming platforms their children use and, more importantly, learn who their children are communicating with online.

“Take time to know what apps and what online gaming platforms they're using,” Barnes said. “But most importantly, be aware of who they are communicating with.”

Investigators hope releasing the names and photographs of those arrested could also prompt anyone who may have previously interacted with one of the suspects to contact authorities.