6 Bay Area men arrested for child exploitation crimes in sting operation
(KRON) — A Hayward high school teacher was among six Bay Area men arrested in an undercover sting targeting suspected sexual predators, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Four out of the six men arrested have been charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney.
The Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted an 11-day operation, called Operation Broken Heart, from Feb. 26 through March 7. According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office, two cases are currently in the process of being reviewed by prosecutors.
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The purpose of Operation Broken Heart was to identify people on the internet who were looking to find minors, meet up, and engage in unlawful sex acts, according to Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton.
“The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has been an integral part of my office’s policies on public safety,” said Becton. “Operation Broken Heart is an example of how the District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement work together in making Contra Costa County safer from those who engage in criminal acts to harm children.”
The men arrested in the Operation Broken Heart include:
Joseph Rudolfo Martinez, Union City Resident, 38
Martinez is a 10th-grade substitute English teacher at Tennyson High School in Hayward who began to chat with two undercover officers, posing as 13-year-old girls on Feb. 26. Police said Martinez sent the officers images of his genitals and admitted he was a teacher. Martinez told officers that the image of his genitals was taken in his classroom. Martinez asked the minors to produce child sexual abuse material for him, police said.
Martinez was arrested and booked for sending harmful material to a minor and the attempted production of child pornography. Martinez has since posted bail and the case is being reviewed by prosecutors.
“Investigators visited Tennyson High School on Friday, March 1 and informed administrators of the arrest of Mr. Martinez and the disturbing allegations against him. As Mr. Martinez was a substitute teacher, HUSD responded swiftly, and we immediately released him from employment. The district notified Tennyson staff members and families of the development on Monday, March 4,” said a Hayward Unified School District spokesperson. “All new HUSD employees are subject to a Department of Justice background check. Mr. Martinez’s background check did not return any problematic past behavior.”
A district spokesperson also said, “We are working closely with authorities to support the investigation as needed, and we are grateful that no HUSD students appear to have been involved.”
James Paul Walsh, Hayward Resident, 44
On March 1, James Walsh engaged in chats with an undercover officer posting as a 13- year-old girl. Walsh told officers he wanted to take the 13-year-old to his apartment and engage in sexual acts. Once Walsh arrived at an apartment complex in Danville, he was taken into custody.
Walsh was booked for attempting to kidnap a minor for sex, attempted lewd acts with a minor, and arranging to meet a minor for sex. Walsh posted bail and the case is being reviewed by prosecutors.
Alexander Derrick Hellmund, Concord Resident, 59
On Feb. 29, Alexander Hellmund arrived at an apartment complex in Danville to pick up a 13-year-old boy and take the minor to Concord to engage in sex acts with him, prosecutors said.
Hellmund was arrested and booked for attempting to kidnap a minor for sex, attempted lewd acts with a minor, and arranging to meet a minor for sex. On March 4, Hellmund was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with the three felonies.
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Elmer Desiderio Ramirez-Lucha, Pittsburg Resident, 45
On Feb. 28, Elmer Ramirez arrived at an apartment complex in Danville to meet a 13- 13-year-old girl to engage in sex acts, according to the district attorney’s office.
Ramirez was arrested and booked for felonies, including attempted lewd acts with a minor and arranging to meet a minor for sex. On March 1, Ramirez was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with the two felonies.
Mahmut Guzelsu, Benicia Resident, 27
On Feb. 28, Mahmut Guzelsu arrived at a park in Danville to meet a 13-year-old girl to engage in sex acts, prosecutors said.
Guzelsu was arrested and booked for felonies, including attempted lewd acts with a minor and arranging to meet a minor for sex. Guzelsu was released on bail. Guzelsu has been formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with the two felonies.
Brady Allen Godsey-Lally, Brentwood Resident, 27
On March 7, Brady Godsey-Lally arrived at an apartment complex in Danville to meet a 13-year-old girl to engage in sex acts, according to the district attorney’s office.
Godsey was arrested and booked for attempted lewd acts with a minor and arranging to meet a minor for sex. On March 11, Godsey was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with both felonies.
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