Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney Arrested For Arranging To Meet Minor For Sex

SEAL BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A criminal defense attorney from Ventura County was arrested in a sting operation Saturday after allegedly trying to meet an underage girl for "sexual purposes" at the Seal Beach Pier.

Arturo Fernando Shaw Gutierrez III, 36, was arrested as he arrived at the pier around 12 p.m., according to the Orange County Sheriff's Dept.

Gutierrez had been unaware but he had been communicating via Facebook with the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force since November, a press release stated.

The Task Force investigated a case on Oct. 16 involving a minor female who was communicating online with a number of adult males, officials said.

Immediately following the arrest, Ventura County Sheriff's Office granted authorities a search warrant for Gutierrez's Oak View residence.

"The Task Force believes there may be additional minor victims that Gutierrez has communicated or engaged with," the press release said.

Gutierrez was booked on charges of contacting a minor with intent to commit a lewd act and arranging to meet a minor for a lewd act.

The suspect was transported to Seal Beach Police Department where he is being held on $50,000 bail.

The Orange County Sheriff's Dept. Special Victims Detail, Seal Beach Police Department and Los Alamitos Police Department assisted the Task Force in the arrest.

Anyone with information regarding other possible victims is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff's Dept.