South Bay Child Porn Investigation Leads To Suspect's Arrest

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — A Mountain View man was last week in connection with a child pornography investigation, police said.

Artiz Banuelos, 26, was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of possession of child pornography, solicitation of a minor to commit a sex crime and arranging a meeting with a minor to commit lewd acts, Mountain View police said.

Banuelos’ arrest culminated an investigation that began in January with a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding possible child abuse sexual material, also known as CSAM.

Mountain View Police Department cyber detectives conducted the investigation.

The investigation revealed thousands of CSAM images and over 100 chats between minors and Banuelos on social media, police said.

The chats included requests for inappropriate images or videos as well as requests to meet in person, according to police.

“This investigation was extensive, with detectives having to cull through each and every image and chat to build their case,” the agency said in a statement said in a statement.

Banuelos was arrested Sept. 27 at the Mountain View Best Buy store, where he was an employee, police said.

Additional evidence was subsequently seized during a search Banuelos’ home, police said.

“The determination and persistence in this case is reflective of the kind of officers we have here at Mountain View PD – dedicated to the protection and service of our most vulnerable residents, our children,” police Capt. Saul Jaeger said in a statement.

“I’m very grateful that this suspect was apprehended by our team.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Officer Pablo Donato at pablo.donato@mountainview.gov.