Man hit with child pornography charges in Southern California free on bail

A 28-year-old Ventura County man, who is out on bail, is facing 9 felony charges in connection with the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), officials announced Tuesday.  

An investigation into the suspect, identified as Oxnard resident Angel Martinez, began in July when authorities with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Unit were monitoring a file sharing network and spotted the illicit materials being shared from an Oxnard apartment.  

As the investigation progressed, a search warrant was issued and executed on Nov. 16 at the residence in the 2900 block of Albany Drive.  

“Martinez was arrested at the scene without incidence and numerous electronic items, including cell phones, hard drives, laptops and a desktop computer were seized,” according to a VCDA news release.  

The 28-year-old has been charged with seven felony counts of distribution of CSAM, a felony count of possessing CSAM with intent to distribute and a felony count of possession of CSAM.  

Martinez, who pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to appear in court in January and remains free after posting a $50,000 bond.  

The City of Oxnard in July 2024 partnered with the district attorney’s office to investigate internet crimes against children.  

Senior Deputy DA Marc Leventhal, a member of the VCDA’s Special Prosecutions Fraud & Technology Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case, officials said.