Recent arrests, including arrest of Redding sex offender, highlight efforts of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

REDDING, Calif., — Two recent Redding arrests, including the arrest of a local registered sex offender, are helping to highlight the ongoing efforts of area law enforcement agencies who are part of the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

As part of the ICAC Task Force, Redding Police Department’s Detective Division receives and investigates several cyber tips a week from various online companies throughout the nation. These tips are regarding the online sexual exploitation of children and detectives work tirelessly with the Redding Area Office of the United States Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) to investigate these tips.

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According to Redding Police Sergeant Jon Sheldon, the recent arrests of two Redding residents, Clifton Roy Wessels, 37, and David Baker, 53, are just the most recent examples of the results of these difficult and often heartbreaking investigations.

Wessels came to the attention of local ICAC detectives earlier this year when they received a tip regarding the possibility that he was in possession of child pornography, according to Sheldon.

As their investigation was getting underway, on Jan. 31, Redding PD ICAC detectives served a search warrant at Wessels’ Redding home. During the service of the search warrant, detectives confirmed Wessels was not only in possession of child pornography, but that he was also manufacturing and distributing child pornography, according to Sheldon.

Based on their investigative findings, detectives arrested Wessels and he was later booked into the Shasta County Jail on child porn and exploitation-related charges. He remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail or bond.

Clifton Wessels (L) and David Baker (R) are just two examples of recent arrests made by Redding PD Detectives as part of their partnership and work with Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) investigations. Redding PD photos

Another recent arrest that followed a months-long investigation occurred yesterday, Feb. 11. The case involved Baker, who is a registered sex offender according to Sheldon, who said ICAC detectives began looking into his suspected criminal activities last year.

As last year’s investigation began to unfold in September, detectives served a search warrant at Baker’s home in the 600 block of Hilltop Drive. During the service search warrant, detectives seized several digital media devices and searched for any child pornography-related materials.

Based on their findings, detectives yesterday obtained a warrant for Baker’s arrest and took him into custody for being a registered sex offender in possession of child pornography. Online jail records indicate he was released within hours of being booked, after posting $50,000 bail or bond.

Sheldon went on to explain that these were just two of countless recent examples of arrests made by the participating Sacramento Valley ICAC agencies and went on to provide information about what to do if you suspect child exploitation occurring.

“If you suspect that you or someone you know is being sexually exploited online, you can report the exploitation by visiting the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) website missingkids.org and make a cyber tip,” the Sergeant explained. “This report will then be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.”

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor 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, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with 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, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.