Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A child has come forward with claims of sexual abuse against a man already accused of possessing hundreds of images of child porn.

A federal warrant was issued for Matthew Peter Mullen, 39. He was arrested August 8 and initially booked on suspicion of possessing child pornography and possession of obscene images of minors in a sexual manner, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“Later on August 08, 2024, a victim who is a minor was identified. West Covina Police Detectives and Special Agents from HSI contacted the victim and their family. This criminal investigation led to additional allegations of sex acts with a child under 10 years of age against S-Mullen,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The alleged acts were said to have occurred January 1, 2021.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed multiple felony counts for sex acts with a child under 10 years of age. Mullen was arraigned in West Covina Superior Court August 12 and is being held without bail.

It appears none of the original porn charges were included when Mullen was charged, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Mullen pleaded not guilty August 12. He is scheduled for an early disposition hearing September 9, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Assisting with the investigation are the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Homeland Security.

**********
​The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A weeks-long investigation involving the West Covina Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Homeland Security resulted in the arrest of a 39-year-old man accused of possessing hundreds of images of child porn.

Matthew Peter Mullen was arrested August 8. He was booked on suspicion of possessing child pornography and possession of obscene images of minors in a sexual manner, according to the West Covina Police Department.

A federal warrant was issued for Mullen’s arrest. Mullen was allegedly found in possession of more than 600 obscene images, according to the West Covina Police Department.

He was taken into custody at 9 a.m., August 8, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Mullen has apparently performed work as a volunteer and local organizations.

His LinkedIn and Facebook profiles list extensive work in quality assurance for a variety of video game developers, most recently with Infinity Ward, Elodie Games and Disney Interactive.

“Due to Mullen’s volunteer efforts in local organizations, Investigators believe there may be additional victims. HSI Los Angeles and the West Covina Police Department are asking for assistance from the public,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this investigation is urged to call West Covina Police Detective Iside at 626-939-8520 or contact the HSI TIP Line at 877-447-4847 and reference the Matthew Mullen investigation.

Mullen is scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court August 12.

********** The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch

WEST COVINA - A 33-year-old woman was arrested December 14, booked on a number of charges stemming from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old male.

Sherry Bernal, a Glendora resident, was taken into custody by West Covina detectives with help from the Department of Homeland Security Child Exploitation Investigation Group.

Bernal is also a preschool teacher in Glendora, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Bernal was booked on suspicion of possession of obscene material involving a minor in a sexual act, use of underage person for obscene material, harmful matter of a minor sent with sexual intent, contact with a minor with an intent for sex and arranging to meet a minor for sexual purposes. Her bail was set at $180,000; however, she was released on bond pending a future court appearance.

The West Covina Police Department urges anyone with information related to this case to call detectives at 626-939-8500.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - The US Marshal Service went to Jurupa Valley and arrested a man Friday accused of lewd and lascivious acts with a child or children.

José de Jesus Barraza, 47, was arrested and is being held in a lieu of $900,000 bail. Barraza was a gymnastics coach and operated out of the community centers in West Covina, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Authorities did not elaborate when the alleged assaults took place, or with how many potential victims.

Barraza is being held in the West Covina jail ahead of scheduled appearance at the West Covina Courthouse August 8.

West Covina detectives believe there may be additional victims that have yet to come forward. Anyone who knows a victim or anyone who may be a victim of Barraza is urged to call the West Covina police Department at 626-939-8500.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - West Covina Police detectives announced the August 3 arrest of a La Mirada man accused of possessing child pornography and child sex abuse material.

Andrew Williams, 33, was booked on the above mentioned crimes and is accused of possessing more than 600 images of child pornography, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The West Covina Police Department said that Williams’ prior place of employment was a church and he last worked in San Dimas. A quick Internet search revealed an Andrew Williams worked as an IT administrator at Victory Outreach Church, 250 W. Arrow Hwy. in San Dimas, beginning in 2019.

This investigation spend several months and included the efforts of West Covina Police detectives, the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the US Marshal Service Pacific Southwest Regiona Fugitive Task Force.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges for the two mentioned crimes.

“Due to Williams’ prior place of employment, a church, Detectives believe there may be potential physical victims,” the West Covina Police Department said in a written statement.

The suspect is also known to have previously resided in the City of Costa Mesa.

Anyone with information that may aid the investigation is urged to call West Covina Police Detective Iside at 626-939-8735.