The arrest of a Turlock man by Homeland Security on child pornography allegations stemmed from an investigation into an international ring using the internet to exchange explicit images of children.
Jeffrey Randall Metcalfe, 46, was taken into custody Thursday morning by Homeland Security agents and arraigned today in federal court on charges of receiving and distributing child pornography.
Homeland Security’s cyber crimes center and child exploitation investigation unit identified a website in June 2012 that had been used extensively to exchange images depicting child pornography. The agents were able to identify an account called “Asmodeusthe1st” and linked the internet protocol address to Metcalfe’s Turlock residence.
“Asmodeus” is the name of a demon of lust that twists people’s sexual desires, according to Binsfeld's classification of demons.
Law enforcement served a search warrant at Metcalfe’s residence on Cedar Ridge Drive Thursday morning. At the home law enforcement found a computer used by Metcalfe that had images of “child erotica and child pornography” on the screen saver, according to the criminal complaint.
Metcalfe was at the home at the time the warrant was served and was interviewed by the Homeland Security agents. He admitted he had at least 10,000 still photos and videos depicting child pornography in his home and that his “goal” was to obtain 100,000.
The pictures includes images of small children of the toddler and preschool age, preteens, teens and some people who appeared to be adults, according to the criminal complaint. In the images children were pictured in sexually explicit and graphic poses and acts with other children and with adults.
During questioning Metcalfe told the agents he had a problem and had tried to get help before when he was previously convicted on federal charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, but that he never got any assistance. He said he wanted help again this time, according to the criminal complaint.
Agents asked Metcalfe if he ever had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a child and Metcalfe was initially hesitant to answer, the criminal complaint states.
One of the agents told Metcalfe that he was “asking for help for himself, but by not telling us (the agents) about his victims, they would never get help."
Metcalfe relented and gave the agents the names of two minors. He said he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old when he was 18 years old and a 9 or 10-year-old when he was 30 years old.
The website Homeland Security found that led them to Metcalfe is not being publically divulged because the investigation is ongoing and additional suspects could be identified and apprehended.
The agents said Metcalfe’s account was traced to 17 usernames on the website.
A review of Stanislaus County Superior Court records show a misdemeanor charge of possession of child pornography was lodged against Metcalfe in 2003, but dismissed the following year.
In 1992, Metcalfe pled guilty to two counts of first-degree custodial interference by enticing two minor girls to go with him out of state without the permission of their parents. At the time Metcalfe was on probation in California and had been ordered to have no contact with one of the girls. He was sentenced to three years formal probation and ordered to undergo an evaluation as a sex offender.
Metcalfe remains in federal custody. A booking photo was not released.
