Ventura Photographix
Ventura County – As if it isn’t tough enough trying to break into show business or to build a modeling career from the ground up, the well-known ploy in which a man posturing himself as a “fashion photographer” simply to gain access to beautiful young females appears to be as widespread as ever.
While most professional models are, in fact, identified and singled out and recruited from their demographic group early in life—many beginning seriously lucrative careers in their mid-teens—there are myriad “photographers” and “agents” promising these girls the moon and the stars if only they will work closely with the photographer to “build a portfolio” that will elevate them above the competition.
The sad reality, however, is that frequently those “agents” are only after fees, and those “photographers” are only after physical access to underage girls.
Such clearly seems to have been the case in the circumstances leading up to the December 22nd arrest of Edward Joseph Rosales, 41, a Ventura resident and the owner-operator of Ventura Photographix in the City of Ventura.
According to Ventura Police Department’s Watch Commander report to the media, nearly two weeks prior, on December 9th, a juvenile female made contact with a Ventura Police Department patrol unit and informed the officers that Rosales—for whom she had modeled before—had “sexually assaulted her against her will.”
The ensuing investigation into Rosales’ activities indicated that through his business interests he had direct access to minor girls outside the purview of others on a long-standing and consistent basis.
Rosales was contacted and served with a search warrant at both his residence and his photography studio.
Pursuant to evidence found during the search, Rosales was arrested and transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on charges of rape by force, lewd conduct with a child under 14, and displaying harmful matter to a minor, with his bail set at $750,000.
This investigation is ongoing, and any member of the public with information into the activities of Rosales are urged to contact Detective Hibdon of the VPD at (805) 339-4443.
Photo: Courtesy Google Earth
