By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

Investigators with the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force recently participated in Operation Broken Heart, a nationwide effort to investigate technology facilitated crimes against children, including those who receive and distribute child pornography. Throughout April and May, the team conducted investigations of subjects who distributed child pornography over the internet and focused on individuals traveling to Contra Costa County to meet minors to engage in sexual activity.

In addition to the proactive investigations the ICAC team participated in, a significant school outreach program was also undertaken to teach parents and student about the risks associated with smartphones and social media. During the last year, investigators and prosecutors delivered presentations at multiple schools and community organizations, reaching thousands of parents, students and educators.

Some notable arrests and investigations conducted during Operation Broken Heart include:

-On April 11, 2019, Investigators arrested Gerald Jue of Danville, California. During the investigation, investigators learned Jue was accessing the internet and searching for child pornography. Jue is a third and fourth grade teacher in the Fremont School District. When a search warrant was served at Jue’s residence, a computer was seized that contained evidence of Jue’s internet searches as well as web pages containing child pornography. Jue was indicted by a federal Grand Jury in Oakland, Ca on June 6, 2019 and arrested on June 7, 2019. He was subsequently released on bond and is awaiting trial. This case was investigated by the ICAC Task Force and the United States Secret Service.

-On May 2, 2019, investigators arrested Sonny Mitchell, a registered sex offender from Antioch, California. During the course of the two-month investigation, it was discovered that Mitchell was distributing child pornography via the Facebook Messenger platform. When a search warrant was executed at Mitchell’s residence, investigators seized a device that contained additional images of child pornography. Mitchell was indicted by a federal Grand Jury in Oakland, California on May 9, 2019 and remains in custody. This case was investigated by the ICAC Task Force and the United States Secret Service.

-On May 3, 2019, investigators arrested William Cashell of Walnut Creek, California. In April 2019, Yahoo sent tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children when child pornography was found in Cashell’s e-mail account. During a warrant at Cashell’s apartment, investigators located an iPhone which was later determined to contain images of child pornography. Cashell’s is charged with one count of possession of child pornography by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. This case was investigated by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the ICAC Task Force.

-On May 16, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant in the 2400 block of L Street in Antioch related to a child pornography possession investigation. ICAC Investigators found evidence the suspect, Henry Cordon, a 34-year-old resident of Antioch, California and formally of Orange Park, Florida, kept images of child pornography stored in his various e-mail accounts. Additionally, during the search warrant Cordon confessed to sexually assaulting a child under the age of ten in 2009 while living in Orange Park, Florida. Cordon produced at least one image of the sexual assault of that child. Cordon was indicted by a federal Grand Jury in Oakland, California on May 30, 2019 for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography. Cordon remains in custody and is currently under investigation in both California and Florida for other offenses related to crimes against children. This case was investigated by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.

The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa County Probation Department and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force along with Special Agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Secret Service.

Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org for further information. If you believe your school or community organization would benefit from a smartphone and social media awareness presentation, please contact Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at dholcombe@contracostada.org.

ABC7 News report screenshot of emergency personnel from ConFire attending to 2-year-old boy who drowned in Antioch, Friday night, June 14, 2019.

By Sergeant Matthew Harger #3305, Field Services Bureau, Antioch Police Department

On June 14, 2019, at approximately 7:30pm, Antioch Police Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call regarding a possible child drowning in a residential family swimming pool in the 3000 Block of N. Francisco Way. Antioch Police Officers along with ConFire and AMR personnel quickly arrived on scene and began immediate live saving measures on the child.

The child was transported to a local hospital where he later passed away.

The preliminary investigation appears to indicate this incident was a tragic accident. No further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Jennifer Fuller of Antioch, left with Malysa Logan of Modesto, who is in need of a second heart transplant. Photo courtesy of Malysa Logan

By Allen Payton

Not long after Antioch Real Estate Broker Rick Fuller started dating his wife Jennifer, she lost her only son, Deon to meningitis in 1998 at the age of four. The couple donated Deon’s organs which saved the lives of four others. A two-year-old girl named Malysa was the recipient of Deon’s heart. Now, 21 years later, that heart is failing and Malysa is need of another transplant.

The Fullers weren’t supposed to know who received their son’s heart. But, a year later Jennifer met Malysa. Then eight years later, Jennifer felt her son’s heart beating in Malysa’s chest. Now, having learned of her need for another heart, since transplants usually only last for three to 10 years, the Fullers have launched an effort to help raise the $100,000 needed to cover Malysa’s medical care.

Now, having learned of her need for another heart, since transplants usually only last for three to 10 years, the Fullers have launched an effort to help raise the $100,000 needed to cover Malysa’s medical care.

In order to be listed for a second transplant, her family must raise the required funds needed to pay all expenses not covered by insurance. The largest expense being the requirement to relocate Malysa Logan and a full-time caregiver to the Stanford area for an unknown period of time following the transplant.

“I gave life to my Sweet Boy Deon 26 years ago today and I would be amiss if I did not share that we have been working on giving life once again,” Jennifer posted on Rick’s Facebook on April 24. “Through Malysa, Deon’s heart has beat these last 21 years and now she is in need of another heart transplant.”

Rick and Jennifer Fuller in a photo from Facebook posted earlier this month.

“Over $53,000 has come in, in less than two months,” Rick shared. “She told us in February that the heart she received from Deon was failing. When she was a child there were several grants that covered the costs. But now that she’s an adult there are no funds for her. That’s when we stepped up and launched our effort in March.”

A donation website has been set up at www.malysasheart.com.

In addition, a fundraiser, hosted by the Rotary of the Delta-Antioch, will be held this Saturday, April 27 at Afrique Restaurant in Antioch. The “Have a Heart” event will run from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the restaurant is located in the Orchard Square at 2370 Buchanan Road. (See flyer above) Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.

“We’re real appreciative about people in our community, coming along side and helping. So, we’re super excited to be a part of that,” Jennifer said.

To learn more about Malysa, her first transplant, her current donor and her need for a new transplant by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/malysasheart/. You may also contact Rick Fuller at info@rickfuller.com.

To see more, watch the NBC Bay Area TV news report about the Fuller’s efforts to help Malysa and the video the couple posted on Jennifer’s Facebook page, on Tuesday night.

By Sergeant Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 at approximately 7:32 pm, Antioch Police Officers and Emergency Personnel were dispatched to the 2600 block of Somersville Road on a report of a vehicle collision involving a vehicle vs. a pedestrian. Upon arrival, Antioch Police Officers located a 3-year-old female juvenile in the parking lot of Sears non-responsive. Life saving measures were started until relieved by medical and fire personnel. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Antioch Police Traffic Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this collision. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Johnsen at (925)779-6900 ext. 84265 or ejohnsen@ci.antioch.ca.us.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Traffic Division.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441 or Officer Johnsen at (925)779-6900 ext. 84265. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.