Edhat Staff
By the edhat staff
Freelance photographer Zachary Warburg was sentenced four years in prison after pleading guilty to child molestation.
Warburg, now 32, was arrested in 2019 by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office after a months-long investigation with the initial charges of communicating with a minor with intent to commit sex crimes or other felonies, possession of child pornography and sending harmful material to a minor with intent of sexual gratification.
Prior to his arrest, Warburg was well known by local emergency responders for his breaking news photography that frequently appeared in the online publication Noozhawk, and a 2018 art show titled “Local Heroes” depicting local first responders.
The investigation began when a Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputy (SRD) assigned to San Marcos High School was notified by a student that Warburg was attempting inappropriate communications with her of a sexual nature. The SRD opened an investigation into the allegations, and soon uncovered several instances of suspicious, lewd and suspected criminal behavior occurring between Warburg and minor female students at local area high schools and junior high schools, as well as out of the area, reports the Sheriff’s Office.
In June of 2018, the investigation was turned over to the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. The investigation revealed numerous victims, and a pattern of alleged criminal behavior where Warburg contacted under-aged and minor females either in person or through various social media platforms. Warburg would then solicit illegal sexual acts, or solicit or send illegal sexually explicit images. Search warrants also revealed that Warburg was in possession of child pornography, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Warburg pleaded guilty to lewd acts with a child under 14 years and witness dissuasion. On top of his prison sentence, he will also be required to register as a sex offender.
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March 27, 2019: Local Freelance Photographer Arrested for Sex Crimes with Minors
I ran into this guy a few times in the art/photo world, before his arrest, and he was a jerk. Very chummy with cops and firefighters. When asked about his photos he talked a lot of crap about all local news organizations, except Noozhawk because they paid him handsomely for his car crash and fire photos. Obviously didn’t know about all this when I met him but he was arrogant and self-important.
Hope he meets my childhood friend John Watson CORCORAN, Calif. — A California inmate serving a life sentence for murder confessed in a letter that he beat to death two child molesters with another inmate’s cane. Look it up. Hope he gets his before he gets out!
The police, City Council ignited the homeless taking photos of kids at elementary schools & charging mothers trying to chase them away.
Why would homeless men take pictures/videos of children on school grounds playing?
Guess we’ll never know since the Dems in office swept it under the carpet & ignored the numerous complaints.