Fourteen men suspected of engaging in illegal and explicit conversations with children over social media have been arrested after a three-day undercover child predator operation led by the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and Yuba County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Several of those facing charges are residents from Sacramento County, according to a pres release from the District Attorney’s office.
The men suspected of these crimes were on a number of popular social media sites when they began some extremely suggestive conversations with who, they believed to be, young girls. Explicit messages were sent and arrangements were made for the suspects to come and engage in sexual acts with the juvenile.
Fortunately, instead of coming face-to-face with an innocent child, the suspects were met by agents from various regional departments and promptly arrested.
Of the 14 suspects listed, 12 have been charged in Yuba County Superior Court with various charges including meeting a minor the lewd purposes, attempted lewd act upon a child, and contact with a minor for sexual offense. The remaining two (Gipson and Lorenz) are being charged in Sacramento County.
“There are no safe places on the Internet or in our community for child predators,” Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry said. “Protecting the most vulnerable in our communities is our core responsibility. When it comes to those who would prey upon our children, there is nothing that we will not do within the parameters of the law to find you and hold you accountable for your actions,”
Yuba County Sheriff Wendell Anderson said. “I appreciate all our law enforcement partners and the efforts that they put forth each day to protect our citizens. This operation is an example of collaboration and commitment and shows that our State, Local and Federal partners prioritize the children and their safety.”
Below is a list of the arrested suspects:
• Isaac Covarrubias, 26, Sacramento – Adult Using Underage 14 minor (HS11361a)
• James Cubbage, 49, Davis – Attempted Lewd Act Upon a Child (PC288.3a)
• Joseph Kergel, 40, Woodland – Meeting Minor for Lewd Purposes (PC288.4b)
• Joshua Norberg, 29, Yuba City – Distributing or Showing Porn to a Minor (PC288.2a2)
• Kenneth Hill, 30, Sacramento – Contact w/ Minor for Sexual Offense (PC288.3a)
• Kenneth Lorenz, 81, Rio Linda
• Kevin Gipson, 58, Oroville
• Moises Cordero, 39, Rancho Cordova – Contact w/ Minor for Sexual Offense
(PC288.3a)
• Pedro Morales, 26, Sacramento – Meeting Minor for Lewd Purposes (PC288.4b)
• Roberto Orocio, 32, Yuba City – Meeting Minor for Lewd Purposes (PC288.4b)
• Steven Cherms, 61, Oroville – Meeting Minor for Lewd Purposes (PC288.4b)
• Ting Thao, 34, Sacramento – Meeting Minor for Lewd Purposes (PC288.4b)
• Thomas Shepherd, 65, Sacramento – Contact w/ Minor for Sexual Offense
(PC288.3a)
• Timothy Bond, 54, Yuba City – Attempted Lewd Act Upon a Child (PC664/288a)
• Kevin Gipson, 58, Oroville – (PC644/288a)
• Kenneth Lorenz, 81, Rio Linda (PC644/288a)
Everyone arrested is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The following agencies participated in the operation:
• Marysville Police Department
• Wheatland Police Department
• Sutter County District Attorney’s Office
• Yuba City Police Department
• Sutter County Sheriff’s Office
• Sutter County Probation
• Sacramento Police Department
• Citrus Heights Police Department
• Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office
• Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office
• Turlock Police Department
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• California Department of Justice
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
If anyone thinks their child have been sexually victimized by any of these men, please contact the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 749-7770. You may remain anonymous by calling the tip line at (530) 749-5181.