Central California ICAC Task Force

Multi-Agency Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force ICAC stands for Internet Crimes Against Children. Several other agencies joined shortly thereafter.

The Central California ICAC Task Force was formed in 2007 and is one of 61 ICAC task forces in the United States. The ICAC system was created in order to combat the growing threat to children by use of the Internet. The federal government oversees this project with the Department of Justice. Specifically, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The Fresno County Sheriff'

s Office (FSO) applied for grant monies to start the task force in 2007. FSO became the lead agency to administer the grant and reports results back to the Federal Government. In 2008, the Central California ICAC Task Force really began to grow and has since expanded to 58 affiliated law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. The Central California ICAC is currently housed in downtown Fresno at the Fresno Homeland Security Investigations Office. The task force conducts investigations within the Eastern District of California as well as working with federal agencies and ICAC task forces throughout the United States. The Central California ICAC Task Force investigates persons using the Internet to attempt to engage in sexual contact with underage children, persons who send children web camera feeds of, or files displaying sexual acts, and persons who download or distribute child po*******hy files using email or file-sharing networks. The task force also conducts education for children, adults and community groups to help them learn to be safer on the Internet and thereby reducing online victimization. The Central California ICAC Task Force provides agencies with the training and resources to conduct proactive and reactive investigations of Internet crimes involving children. These proactive investigations allow investigators to arrest child predators before they have the opportunity to hurt a child. The Central California ICAC Task Force is dedicated to locating, identifying, and arresting those who prey upon our children, or those who sexually exploit our children through the use of technology. To enhance the Central California's law enforcement investigative and prosecutorial responses to Internet-related crimes committed against children. To provide ongoing training opportunities for investigators, forensic examiners, and prosecutors involved with ICAC investigations. Member agencies can receive exclusive training for their members, at reduced cost, at locations throughout the United States. To provide technological equipment and inter-agency assistance to its affiliated agencies. The Central California ICAC Task Force offers many other resources to enhance law enforcement's responses to Internet-related crimes committed against children to include deconfliction databases, contact lists, and email updates about cases, legislative updates and issues, and future training sessions. To promote community awareness of the problem of sexual exploitation of children and educate the community on preventing Internet crimes from happening to children. To raise the awareness of Central California residents about the sexual exploitation of children and prevention education. NetSmartz Internet Safety Presentation materials are available to affiliated agencies and members of the public. This material targets students from kindergarten through high school.

06/01/2026

Umber wants everyone to PAWS and Think Twice about their online activity! Share this video, and let’s STAY safe! 🐾

P – Private Info Stays Private
A – Alert a Trusted Adult
W – Walk Away from Uncomfortable Situations
S – Screen Your Friends

https://players.brightcove.net/2619222685001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6396677074112

05/28/2026

K-9 Jack Retires

Thursday marked the end of Jack's successful working career for the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Affectionately named "ICAC Jack," he began his career at the Fresno County Sheriff's Office in 2019 as a 14 month old. Now seven years old, this Springer Spaniel from Ireland will spend retirement living at the home of one of his previous handlers.

Jack made a huge difference during investigations by specializing as an electronics detection dog. This means he helped sniff out predators' devices during search warrants, which ultimately kept kids safe.

Jack's replacement will soon be deployed to continue his legacy of public service. We will keep you posted when this happens.

ICAC is comprised of 68 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies spread throughout nine counties in the Central Valley. It is dedicated to protecting children online and investigating crimes committed against children, which are facilitated by the Internet and computer usage.

05/26/2026

05/21/2026

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division received two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the suspected possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) occurring in Madera County.

During the investigation, detectives identified 34-year-old Joshua Lee Hefner as the suspect in the case. Hefner is employed by Madera Unified School District and was assigned to Dixieland Elementary School as a part time cafeteria playground assistant at the time of the investigation.

On May 18, 2026, detectives with the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, working in coordination with the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), executed a search warrant at a residence in the area of Avenue 18 ½ and Road 19 in Madera.

During the search, investigators located electronic devices belonging to Hefner that contained CSAM. Detectives contacted Hefner at Dixieland Elementary School, where he was taken into custody.

Based on preliminary forensic analysis of the seized devices, investigators have not identified any Dixieland Elementary School students as victims at this time.

All electronic devices associated with Hefner were seized for further examination as part of the ongoing investigation.  The Madera County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information regarding this case or potential victims to please contact Detective Eder Andrade at 559-517-7997.

Tips may also be emailed to: [email protected]  Anonymous tips may be made through Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867), or by texting “Tip MaderaSO” followed by your message to 888777.  Tips may also be made on the Madera County Sheriff’s Mobile App: MaderaSheriffApp.com.

The suspect photo is not posted in accordance with PC 13665. We encourage you to watch for the stories on our local partner media pages for current booking photos.

05/18/2026

Online games can connect kids with friends around the world.

But they can also connect them with strangers.
Privacy settings and open conversations can help keep kids safer online. LEARN MORE: https://www.ncmec.org/netsmartz/topics/gaming

05/04/2026

In March of 2026, Merced Sheriff’s Detectives, in cooperation with the Fresno Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, began following up on a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children regarding a suspect in possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

During the investigation, Detectives identified the suspect as 21-year-old Daniel Lucatero Bucio of Delhi, California. Through the investigation, Lucatero-Bucio was identified as a track coach at Livingston Middle School in Livingston, California, and is currently pursuing a career in education at CSU Stanislaus.

On April 24, 2026, Merced Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Lucatero-Bucio at the CSU Stanislaus campus. He was booked into the Merced County jail for possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. At this time, there is no evidence showing that any of the children he coached were victims. This remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this investigation can contact our Detectives Bureau at 209.385.7472. Callers may remain confidential.

05/04/2026

May the 4th be with you.
When it comes to exploring online…

Using Your NetSmartz Workshop is the way: ncmec.org/netsmartz
Star Wars

05/04/2026

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month — a time to better understand how abuse happens, so we can stop it earlier.

Grooming is a process. An abuser builds trust, gradually shifts boundaries, and creates a sense of secrecy or dependence to manipulate a young person.

This isn’t new. These tactics have existed in offline abuse for a long time. What has changed is access.

Today, young people can be reached through games, chat apps, and social platforms. Any online space where relationships can feel real and consistent, even without ever meeting in person. That can make it harder to recognize when trust is being misused.

Understanding how grooming works is one of the most powerful ways to help protect kids. When adults recognize the signs and create space for open conversation, it becomes easier for young people to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

Awareness is one of the first steps in prevention.

👇Explore our resource guide to learn how grooming happens, and what you can do to help prevent it.

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Central California ICAC Task Force

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