Locals Arrested in Connection to Child Porn Case

Five Southland residents were arrested during an investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography over the Internet, authorities said today.

The arrests followed a six-week investigation by a Los Angeles County Cyber Crimes Task Force, the sheriff's department reported.

On Wednesday and Thursday, authorities served search warrants at homes in South Los Angeles, Palmdale and Fullerton, and at businesses in Baldwin Park and Whittier.

Arrested were Rolando Garcia, 19, of South Los Angeles; Mario Aburto, 43, of West Covina; Jon Johnson, 72, of Fullerton; and Soraya Solimano, 53, of Palmdale. Garcia, Aburto and Johnson were booked on suspicion of possessing and distributing child pornography. Solimano was booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance.

This morning, authorities arrested Gregory MacClean, 52, of Palmdale, on suspicion of possession and distribution of child pornography, authorities said.

"MacClean had previously fled, and then failed to show up at a pre- arranged meeting with investigators," a sheriff's statement said. "He then turned himself in (today)."

The Los Angeles County Cyber Crimes Task Force includes personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and the FBI.

-- City News Service