Orange County podiatrist charged with Child Pornography
SANTA ANA – Pete Thomas, a 58-year-old doctor of podiatry is to be arraigned for possession of child pornography on Thursday at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Dr. Pete Thomas
Thomas was a podiatrist at Coastline Podiatry. According to a Santa Ana police press release, on October 15th, he was having a scanner installed at his Santa Ana office, the technician from the imaging company saw thumbnail images of young girls, nude and in sexual positions, stored on Thomas’s computer. The technician completed the job, and reported the information to his supervisor, who then reported it to the Santa Ana police.
An investigation was launched and a search warrant obtained, and on October 30th, Santa Ana police and the Orange County Regional Forensics Laboratory investigated the files located on Thomas’s computer. They found approximately 1100 images of girls ranging in age from 7 to 12-years-old in various stages of undress, and included approximately 100 images of girls involved in sex acts with grown men. The initial investigation concluded with Thomas’s arrest in December 11th on the charge of felony possession and control of child pornography. He is currently out on $50,000 bail.
If convicted, Thomas will face a maximum sentence of 3 years in state prison, and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. As a result, he would also be barred from county recreational areas and city parks, along with many other restrictions from cities which have passed the Sex Offender Ordinance and Child Safety Zone Ordinance.
The investigation into Thomas’s activities is ongoing, and anyone with more information, or believes they may be a victim is asked to contact Detective Mike Judson of Santa Ana PD at 714-245-8378 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Anthony Sosnowski at 714-247-8794.
Read More:
NBC 4: Santa Ana Doctor Arrested on Suspicion of Possessing Child Pornography
OC Weekly: Dr. Pete Thomas, Podiatrist Alleged to Possess 1,100 Images of Kiddie Porn, Faces Three Years
KTLA: O.C. Foot Doctor Arrested on Child Porn Charges
