An investigation led by the Brentwood Police Department and Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children team found files believed to be child porn on the computers of Discovery Bay resident Justin Lambakis, 42; Brentwood resident David Larsen, 55; and Antioch resident Chad Gengenbach, 36. All were arrested and booked into the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez, Herbert said.
A fourth warrant was served at a home in Antioch, but the suspect was not home and has not been located by police.
“Hopefully making these arrests public will make anyone thinking about searching out these types of files think twice,” Herbert said.
According to Herbert, several computers were seized and sent to a forensics lab following a brief infield search at the suspects’ residences. The lab employs specially designed software that identifies known titles of child porn or other suspicious files.
Once the computers are returned from the forensics lab, said Herbert, further charges might be filed.
The suspects were released from jail after making bail and will likely face felony charges when they go to court, Herbert said. All three suspects also face the possibility of being required to register as sex offenders. None of the suspects have prior criminal records.
Herbert declined to elaborate on how detectives were tipped off to the suspects, only to say the investigation began three weeks ago and included the help of the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes against Children team and a Brentwood police detective specially trained in the field of Internet crimes against children.
Since its inception in 1998, the ICAC has played a part in the arrest of 30,000 suspects nationwide, and helped train law enforcement agencies to respond to cases of child pornography.
Starr Stepp, public affairs specialist for the Office of Justice Programs, which oversees the work of the ICAC, declined comment due to the ongoing nature of the investigation is ongoing.
Community reaction to the arrests have ranged from shock and disgust to fear. “That is just weird,” said Jesus Carona. “Why would anyone have that?”
Brentwood resident Gavin Belscher was speechless when he heard about the incident. “That does not make me feel good,” Belscher said. “I don’t know what to say. That is not OK by any standards.”
Another Brentwood resident, who requested to be identified as Jennifer, let her actions do the talking. When asked about incident, she pointed to her son running around the water fountain in front of City Hall.
“That is all I need to say,” she said. “I also have a 5-year-old daughter.”
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