Jonathan Sandoval-Lepe, who is 31 and resides in Long Beach was indicted by a federal grand jury in relation with possession of child pornography and molesting a young girl in Mexico. Ever since September of 2017, when an undercover detective received child pornography from Sandoval-Lepe on an online program he utilized to exchange porn with others, Sandoval-Lepe has been under investigation.
Officials later found additional evidence in the home of Sandoval-Lepe, including electronics with child pornography on them. It was during an interview with Sandoval-Lepe that detectives began to believe that he had molested a young girl while he was in Mexico. Los Angeles authorities, with help from the F.B.I., were able to locate the girl and interview her and her parents. It was discovered that Sandoval-Lepe had a relationship with the family and on a few occasions, would make the trip to Mexico. On multiple of those occasions there was sexual contact with the victim.
A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Sandoval-Lepe in connection with possession of child pornography, engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country, and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. His trial is dated in October and if he is convicted, Sandoval-Lepe faces a maximum sentence of 130 years in prison. If he were to be given a lighter sentence, he would remain supervised sex offender.
For more information regarding the legality of child pornography, click here.