Child Exploitation Cases
Clovis Teacher Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography; Madera and Modesto Men Sentenced to Long Prison Terms; Bakersfield Man Sentenced for Probation Violation

FRESNO, CA—A teacher from Clovis pleaded guilty today to producing child pornography, a Madera man was sentenced to 25 years in prison, a Modesto man was sentenced to 17 years in prison, and a Bakersfield man was returned to prison for violating the terms of his post-prison supervision, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

“This office has established a national reputation for its prosecution of child predators and others who exploit children,” said U.S. Attorney Wagner. “One of the U.S. Department of Justice’s strategic priorities is protecting the most vulnerable members of society; cases like these make clear why we take this mission so seriously.”

“As these cases make abundantly clear, local and federal law enforcement are allied in the effort to protect children and combat the proliferation of child pornography,” said Mike Prado, resident agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fresno. “The urgency of our mission cannot be understated, particularly in the cases highlighted today that involved local victims whose innocence was stolen by the defendants.”

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation and our law enforcement partners are committed to identifying and investigating all individuals who possess and trade images that depict the victimization of young children,” said Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the Sacramento FBI. “Repeat offenders such as Reddell and Bowersox are of particular concern as the continued, despicable behavior, despite a prior conviction, demonstrates the threat posed to our innocent children.”

Former Clovis Teacher Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

Former Clovis Unified School District teacher Neng Yang, 46, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. According to the plea agreement, Yang admitted to using a computer device and electronic storage media to record and store videos depicting the sexual abuse of a minor under 12 years old on multiple occasions in January 2012. Yang was charged with four counts of producing child pornography and has been in federal custody since January 27, 2012.

Yang is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on June 2, 2014. The plea agreement contemplates a sentence of 38 years. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court at the hearing.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the Clovis Police Department and the Fresno U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Brian W. Enos is prosecuting the case. Docket #: 1:12-cr-037 AWI

Madera Parolee Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

Frank Charles Reddell, 39, of Madera, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to 25 years in prison for receiving child pornography. According to court documents, on December 26, 2012, Reddell was arrested by a California State Parole agent who observed Reddell sitting in his car in a parking lot viewing images of child pornography. At the time of his arrest, Reddell was on parole. When agents searched the Reddell’s computer and a computer thumb drive identified as belonging to him, they found many files containing child pornography. Reddell also had a 2004 conviction in the Tuolumne County Superior Court for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor. Reddell pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography on December 2, 2013.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, the Madera Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation. Assistant United States Attorney Brian W. Enos prosecuting the case. Docket # 1:13-cr-090 LJO

Modesto Man Sentenced 17 Years in Prison for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

Ted Lee Duran, 49, of Modesto, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to serve 17 years in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release for receipt and distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, a relative of Duran went to the Modesto Police Department and reported finding child pornography on a phone that Duran had borrowed. Additional investigation revealed that Duran had received or distributed more than 600 images of minors being sexually abused, some of which depicted violence or were of sadistic conduct.

This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Modesto office in collaboration with the Ceres and Modesto Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa. Docket # 1:12-cr-384 AWI

Bakersfield Man Returns to Prison after Serving a Four-Year Sentence

Christopher Kent Bowersox, 41, of Bakersfield, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to serve three months in custody as a result of two violations of his supervised release conditions. Bowersox, a former Bakersfield Police detective, began serving a 120-month term of supervised release after he completed a four-year prison term, imposed after his conviction for possession of child pornography, on August 7, 2013. Terms of supervision included restrictions on accessing the Internet and pornography. Bowersox admitted that on December 11, 2013, he used a computer to access pornography on the Internet. Judge Ishii today re-imposed a term of supervision for 117 months during which Bowersox will be required to register as a sex offender, and his access to minors, computers, and the Internet will continue to be restricted.

The case was originally investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bakersfield Police Department with assistance from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa. (1:10-cr-082 AWI).