Full Notification

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Unit worked collaboratively to catch an offender committing sex crimes. On January 26, 2015, Detectives from the two different units of the Investigations Bureau culminated a three month long child pornography investigation.

Possessing, viewing or sharing child pornography, is a felony offense under State law. The Detectives discovered a person sharing of child pornography via the internet. They served a Search Warrant on December 23, 2014, at an apartment on Fern Road in Guerneville.

During the investigation, computer evidence was seized and the occupants of the residence were interviewed, including the suspect, Stuart Staub, age 40. Staub was not initially arrested at the scene pending further investigation to determine his involvement.

After a thorough forensic examination of the computer evidence, Detectives located multiple child pornography images on a computer belonging to Staub. The investigation was submitted to the Sonoma County District Attorney for review, and a felony warrant was issued on January 26, 2015 for Staub’s arrest for possession of obscene matter involving minors.

Detectives promptly served the warrant that same day. They found Staub at his residence, where he was arrested without incident and booked into the Sonoma County Jail. Bail was set at $30,000. Later he produced bail and is next due on court on February 4, at 8:30.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is an active affiliate to the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (SVICAC) Task Force which was established by the U.S. Department of Justice in March of 2003. The Task Force works cooperatively with the local FBI, Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The SVICAC has an eleven county responsibility within the greater Bay Area region. SVICAC is responsible for investigating cases of web-facilitated child pornography and cases of child sexual exploitation or abuse that results from contact over the Internet or other computer services. For further information regarding SVICAC, please visit their website: www.svicac.org

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is proud of the dedicated men and women who work diligently to build strong cases against criminals who exploit the most vulnerable in our society.



Case #141210-015


Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO