Photo: Joel McClain
December 2, 2020 – Santa Barbara County, Ca.
The investigation into the suspicious activities of 30-year-old Santa Maria resident Joel McClain, ongoing since June of this year, resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant with his name on it.
According to SMPD spokesman Sgt. Andy Magallon, in early June detectives received information that McClain “possessed child pornography.” That gave the cops probable cause to conduct further investigation which “led to multiple search warrants” that were at that time served upon and conducted at McClain’s residence on Fiesta Way in the city of Santa Maria.
With evidence gathered at the time of the warrant searches, detectives determined that McClain had been in personal physical contact with at least one child “who had been sexually abused.” That revelation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant, and on
December 1 st detectives made contact with McClain and promptly took him into custody.
McClain was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child, possession of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. He remains in custody at this time with his bail set at $350,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
