OC Child Exploitation Task Force Makes an Arrest

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, California - On September 7, 2012, Special Agents with the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF) arrested Kevin Kendall, a registered sex offender residing in Long Beach, California, according to Gail Krause, Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) public relations manager. Kendall was charged with contacting a minor online with prior conviction and arranging to meet a minor.

The OCCETF is a multi-agency group consisting of Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Offi, USPTIce and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service assigned to investigate Internet-related crimes against children as well as crimes involving the possession, production and distribution of child pornography.

On August 21, 2012, Special Agents began conducting an undercover investigation in a teen chat room online. The chat room is advertised for use by people between the ages of 13 and 19. In addition, the room is capable of flash video and allows for users to engage in private webcam chats. During an undercover session an individual using the screen name “Cali M” sent an unsolicited private message to an agent who was posing as a 13-year-old female. “Cali M” began to conduct a sexually explicit chat session and discuss his desire to meet with who he thought was a 13-year-old minor female.

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On August 22, 2012, “Cali M,” who also provided the undercover agent with a fictitious name of “John Jay” stated he lived in Long Beach, California. He arranged to meet with the undercover agent at the Huntington Beach pier, however, he did not show up to the scheduled meeting.

Investigative activities led to the identification of “Cali M” as Kevin Kendall, a registered sex offender.

Kendall was previously arrested in 2007 in Garden Grove, California for similar charges.

On September 7, 2012, Special Agents contacted Kendall at his place of employment in Claremont, California, with the assistance of the Claremont Police Department. During Kendall’s interview, he admitted to the current charges. Kendall was placed in custody and transported to the Orange County Jail without incident.