Woman charged with multiple counts
Brawley resident Diane Christina Deveaux, 35, is facing felony child molestation charges in the Imperial County Superior Court after admitting she molested multiple children while broadcasting the acts via webcam to her boyfriend in Florida.
Investigators with the Imperial Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, released a press release Monday providing more details into Deveaux’s arrest.
The Imperial Valley Press had previously reported on Deveaux’s arrest and her connection with Richard Alton Morgan, a 57-year-old man living in Florida, who was arrested on Feb. 13 for several charges involving child pornography.
Photos on Deveaux’s Facebook page show her and Morgan kissing.
On Monday, county District Attorney’s Office Deputy District Attorney Kevin Cayton confirmed the two arrests are connected.
The Press has previously reported that in early in the morning of Feb. 13, detectives from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Florida served a search warrant on Morgan’s home and discovered numerous images of child pornography.
Morgan had admitted to downloading child pornography for years.
As detectives continued to review the evidence collected during the search, images were found of a young female who was being molested by Morgan.
Detectives learned that this child, whom he admitted to molesting, was in California.
Late that night, California authorities located the child and arrested her mother, Deveaux, who authorities believe met Morgan online, on molestation charges.
Deveaux was initially charged Feb. 15 with one count of forcible lewd acts on a child and one count of penetration of a child under 10-years-old, however, on Monday, Cayton said there are two female victims involving Deveaux’s case.
He could not provide more information regarding their ages.
During a hearing Feb. 27, Deveaux was charged with an additional 13 criminal counts. She now stands accused of eight counts of forcible lewd acts on a child; and seven counts of penetration or oral copulation of a child under the age of 10. If convicted of all the charges, she faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Deveaux is in custody at this time.
An HSI supervisory special agent said that they are investigating if Deveaux shared any of the images or videos with anyone else and will determine if there are any more suspects.
The special agents also said they are investigating phones and computers belonging to Deveaux.
In the press release, it states the Brawley Police Department and ICAC are seeking the public’s assistance to identify other potential victims of child exploitation.
Anyone with information about this case or other victims of child exploitation is encouraged to call HSI at 1- 866- 2DHSICE.
The special agent said they have not determined if there are any other victims regarding Deveaux’s case and will be determined after the investigation on her cell phones and computers are finalized.
Deveaux is next scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. April 3 in the Brawley Superior Court.
“The Imperial County Board of Supervisors’ support of the Imperial Valley ICAC Task Force enhances our ability to investigate and prosecute offenders who use the internet to sexually exploit children,” said Imperial County District Attorney Gilbert Otero in the press release. “Collaboration between local, state and federal agencies allows us to hold people accountable when they prey on the most vulnerable members of our community.”