UPDATED: Temecula resident pleads not guilty to child-sex related charges

UPDATE: March 8, 10 p.m.

TEMECULA – A Temecula resident pleaded not guilty at his March 3 arraignment to possession of child pornography and committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14-years-old. He also denied the enhancement of possessing sexual images of a minor under 12-years-old.

Sky Barrera pleaded not guilty to lewd acts with a minor and possession of child pornography charges.

The alleged suspect, identified as Sky Jesus Barrera, 30, of Temecula, was arrested Wednesday, March 1, after investigators serving a search warrant located child pornography and evidence Barrera was engaging in online conversations with underage boys.

He was arrested at a private residence on Veneto Drive in Temecula. The home is south of Margarita and east of Moraga Roads.

Barrera was booked into the Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of possession of child pornography and committing lewd acts with a minor. Both are felony charges. He was also booked for two narcotics-related warrants.

As part of an ongoing investigation, Temecula police investigators served a search warrant at the home and recovered evidence linking Barrera to possession of child pornography, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Steve Fredericks explained in a March 6 press release.

“The ongoing forensic examination of Barrera’s digital media files has revealed numerous videos and images, as well as video conversations between Barrera and unidentified young boys,” Fredericks said.

An online jail records search revealed Fredericks remains in custody in lieu of $85,000 bail. His next scheduled court date is a Felony Settlement Conference at the Southwest Justice Center March 14.

“The Temecula Police Department would like to remind parents to be vigilant, and monitor their children’s internet activity,” said Fredericks. “Sexual predators frequently use the anonymity of the internet to prey on victims, whom are often innocent and unassuming children.”

Anyone with information regarding this investigation, or suspicions of solicited conversations between Barrera and their children are urged to immediately contact Temecula Police Detective Franchville at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number TE170170151 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.

Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.