Latest news with #JosephForney
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Cal Fire employee arrested at Patterson station in child porn case
A Cal Fire firefighter was arrested Thursday while on duty at a fire station in Patterson following a cybertip that led investigators to suspect he was in possession of child pornography, authorities said. Joseph Trevor Forney, 41, is facing multiple felony charges after an investigation by the Manteca Police Department's Hi-Tech Crimes and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit uncovered sexually explicit material involving minors — including children under 10 years old. Detective Matthew Phillips of the Manteca Police Department received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on May 8, according to a news release. Using online forensic tools, Phillips identified Forney as a suspect and obtained both a search warrant and an arrest warrant. Police said Forney had uploaded, possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material. He was taken into custody June 5 while working at the Cal Fire Del Puerto station in Patterson, where he was assigned as a full-time employee. According to authorities, Forney has worked for Cal Fire since 2023 and has been stationed in the Patterson, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz areas. He also has a prior criminal history in Idaho and completed parole in 2024. Police emphasized that his past convictions were not related to child sexual exploitation. Forney was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail and faces the following charges: Possession/distribution of obscene material depicting a minor Possession of obscene matter involving a sex act with a minor under 12 Sexual depiction of a minor engaged in sexual conduct Annoying or molesting a victim under 18. 'Cal Fire demands its employees uphold standards of professional conduct both on and off duty. We are aware of this criminal case and are monitoring it closely. Cal Fire will determine next steps as these investigations progresses,' the agency said in a statement. 'The department urges anyone with information related to this case — or who may know of children who have disclosed being victimized by Joseph Forney — to contact Phillips at mphillips@ or 209-456-8101,' police said. The case reference number is 25-02083.
CBS News
06-06-2025
- CBS News
Cal Fire employee arrested on suspicion of child porn possession, distribution
Detectives have arrested a full-time Cal Fire employee after a child pornography investigation. Manteca police say, back in May, they got a tip from the National Missing and Exploited Children organization. The tip led detectives to allege that Joseph Trevor Forney had possessed, uploaded, and distributed child pornography involving victims under 10 years old. Forney had been with Cal Fire since 2023 and had worked the Patterson, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz areas. After a warrant was issued, Manteca police say Forney was arrested at the Patterson Cal Fire station. Police noted that, before working for Cal Fire, Forney had criminal history in Idaho but it was unrelated to child sex crimes. He had only cleared parole in 2024. Forney has been booked into San Joaquin County Jail and is facing numerous charges related to possession of child sex abuse material.
