SBPDPIOSource: Santa Barbara Police Department
On September 28, 2021, Santa Barbara Police Detectives were conducting follow-up to a child pornography cyber tip from the Los Angeles Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC). During the investigation, search warrants were authorized, and Detectives learned the suspect, Gilberto Hernandez-Ortuno, a 47-year-old Santa Barbara resident had photographic evidence of child pornography on his cellular phone. It appears Hernandez-Ortuno had used a social media app to receive and store pornographic photos of a juvenile. Evidence seized during the arrest further confirmed Hernandez-Ortuno’s connection to the social media accounts under investigation.
Hernandez-Ortuno was arrested on Santa Barbara on September 29, 2021at 4:00pm in the 400 block of West Anapamu Street. He is being charged with felony possession of child pornography, 311.11(a) PC and was booked in the Santa Barbara County Jail with $20,000 bail.
On 9-29-21, Detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department executed a search and arrest warrant for suspect Samuel Lafond at his home in Carpinteria, CA. Detectives were investigating two cyber-tips from the Los Angeles Police Departments Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) in which Lafond, using an IP address in Santa Barbara, exchanged child pornography on a messaging app. Detectives seized several electronics and other evidence in connection to the crime. Throughout the continued investigation, evidence was also found indicating Laford was attempting to meet juveniles for sexual purposes (288.3 PC / 288.4 PC). Detectives will continue to investigate these as separate crimes.
Lafond was booked for 311.11(a) PC, felony possession of child pornography. During the search warrant service, Detectives determined Lafond was also the suspect several unreported assault and battery charges. No further information can be provided on the assault and battery charges as the investigation is ongoing. Detectives obtained a bail increase for $300,000 due to the nature of the offenses.
Great investigative work by SBPD detectives in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police ICAC taskforce.
