Lamorinda Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Possession

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A former Oakland Fire Department captain pleaded guilty Tuesday to a child pornography possession charge in Contra Costa County Superior Court, prosecutors said.

Richard Chew, 58, of Lafayette, entered the guilty plea and was sentenced to 150 days in jail, three years of probation, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Chew, who has been out on bail since his arrest earlier this year, was ordered to register as a sex offender and to surrender at a later date to begin serving his sentence, prosecutors said.

The Contra Costa Internet Crimes Against Children task force launched an investigation into Chew on Aug. 19 and served search warrants at his home on Harper Court in Lafayette and at his Oakland Fire Department
office, prosecutors said.

Child pornography was found on Chew's laptop and on Sept. 7 he was charged with possession of it.

Oakland Fire Chief Darin White said following Chew's arrest and arraignment that he was "appalled by the disturbing nature" of Chew's offenses.

In 2009, the Oakland City Council honored Chew and other firefighters for a swift water rescue at a fatal traffic crash scene at Hegenberger Road and Hamilton Street on Nov. 1, 2008.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock