OC sex offender convicted again of attempting to solicit sex acts from minors – New Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A convicted sex offender was arrested today and faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison. A federal grand jury indicted him on five counts on charges that he attempted to solicit sex via the internet platform Reddit from someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl, but who was actually an undercover police investigator. US Attorney’s Office.

Shaw Warrington34, of San Juan Capistrano, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct, attempted production of child pornography, commission of a crime against a minor while required to register as a sex offender, possession of child pornography and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Warrington was arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The case is scheduled for trial on July 16. A federal judge ordered Warrington to be held in jail without bail.

According to the indictment filed Wednesday and unsealed today, Warrington attempted to solicit sex from minors in Orange County in January and February 2023 using the website Reddit. An undercover police officer responded to Warrington’s requests and eventually arranged a meeting at a Newport Beach mall, where Warrington believed he would engage in criminal sexual conduct, the indictment says. Instead, Warrington was arrested after showing up at the meeting point.

A search of Warrington’s mobile phone allegedly found two images depicting child sexual abuse (CSAM).

Police also seized a firearm and more than 350 rounds of ammunition from Warrington’s home. Warrington is not allowed to possess these weapons because he was convicted in 2013 in Orange County Superior Court of a felony charge of meeting with a minor to engage in lewd behavior. As a result of that conviction, Warrington must register as a sex offender.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, Warrington faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in a federal prison – 15 years for attempted production of child pornography and a mandatory 10-year sentence for committing a crime against a minor while registered as a sex offender. If convicted, Warrington faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in a federal prison.

The FBI and Newport Beach Police are investigating this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin J. Campbell of the Santa Ana Office is prosecuting this case.

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