Santa Cruz Man Arrested on Suspicion of Child Porn
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz Police Department on an alert from the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (SVICAC) arrested Chris Cowell Pappas, 41, of Santa Cruz on suspicion of possessing and distributing child pornography.
On Wednesday morning, with the help of SVICAC, authorities searched Pappas’ home and computer and found images of children arranging from ages 9-years-old to 12-years-old. Authorities also believe that none of the children in the sexually explicit photos were from Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz Police spokesperson Zach Friends told reporter Steven Baxter of the Santa Cruz Sentinel that Pappas received the images through internet based news groups, file sharing services, instant messaging services and by searching websites. Pappas did not appear to manufacture or participate in any of the pornographic images.
Chris Cowell Pappas
Pappas was cooperative as the police searched his home and computer. Pappas is a U.S. Military Veteran who served in Iraq. He is employed as a security guard with First Alarm Company and is married.
In March of 2003, the Silicon Valley developed a law-enforcement group to help the parent agency, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It is called Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (SVICAC).
“It is the mission of the Silicon Valley ICAC Task Force to protect children through education and training to other law-enforcement agencies and other agencies that deal with children,” San Jose Police Officer Daniel Ichige said. “ We are responsible for the Bay Area but there are five other ICAC task forces throughout California.”
The Santa Cruz Police department is still going through hard drives in an attempt to gather more evidence.
Santa Cruz police ask anyone with information to call the anonymous tip line at 420-5995 or leave a tip at www.santacruzpolice.com or by the mobile application at http://m.santacruzpolice.com.
Read More:
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Santa Cruz Man Arrested with Child Porn
Examiner: Santa Cruz Man Arrested for Possessing Child Porn
