Man accused of child porn possession agrees to plea deal

A 24-year-old Calipatria man accused of possessing child pornography entered into a plea deal during his appearance Friday morning at the Superior Courthouse here.

Sebastian Atondo faced a felony charge of knowingly possessing or controlling any matter that depicts a person under 18 years of age personally engaging in or simulating sexual conduct.

Atondo’s attorney, Heather Cutlip, was able to negotiate the plea deal, which reduced the charge to a misdemeanor and ordered that Atondo be placed on three years of formal probation.

Atondo entered a no contest plea before Judge Christopher Plourd, who took into consideration that Atondo had no prior record.

Cutlip explained this disposition was reached after the 46 images for which Atondo was arrested were “actually viewed,” she said.

She said that out of that group, there were probably about a dozen to 15 images of potential child pornography.

Cutlip noted that the number 46 was reached, as there were repetitions, as well as images, such as screenshots of bad jokes, that ultimately did not qualify as potential child porn.

The count alleges that Atondo was in possession of these images on Feb. 15, 2019.

However, it wasn’t until the afternoon of Nov. 18, 2020, that Homeland Security Investigations agents took Atondo into custody at a residence in the 100 block of East Barbara Street in Calipatria.

He was subsequently booked into county jail on $35,000 bail and posted bail by 10 p.m. that same day.

Atondo’s probation hearing and sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 24.