Fresno Leader

Fresno County Sheriff's detectives have taken Seth Andrew Mattocks, a 40-year-old resident of Fresno, into custody. He faces felony charges for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and is currently held at the Fresno County Jail without bail eligibility.

The arrest occurred on Thursday, October 17th, when members of the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at a residence located in the 4500 block of E. Normal Ave., Fresno. During the operation, detectives seized electronic devices from Mattocks' home and discovered photographs classified as child sexual abuse material.

Authorities encourage anyone with further information regarding Seth Mattocks to reach out to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or visit www.valleycrimestoppers.org. Information providers can remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward by referencing case #24-11772.

The ICAC comprises 64 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across nine counties in the Central Valley. The task force focuses on safeguarding children online and investigating internet-facilitated crimes against minors.

Law enforcement advises the public to exercise caution while navigating websites and social media platforms. Parents are urged to monitor their children's internet activities and be aware of the applications they use. Maintaining open communication with children is essential for building trust. Online predators often disguise themselves to exploit victims. It is crucial to teach children skepticism about online interactions since individuals may not be who they claim to be. Commonly used apps by suspects include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Discord, Kik, MeetMe, and Scout. Suspicious behavior should be reported immediately to law enforcement or through a cyber tip via the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/.