The Manteca Police Department has reported the arrest of Joseph Trevor Forney, a Cal Fire employee, on charges of possession, uploading, and distribution of child pornography. Their investigation, triggered by a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), concluded with Forney's arrest last Thursday, while he was on duty at a fire station in Patterson, California, according to a social media post by the Manteca Police Department.
Detective Phillips of the Manteca Police Department's Hi-Tech Crimes and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) team, was assigned to the case after the tip was received on May 8. Detective Phillips used specialized online investigation tools, which led to the identification and the subsequent confirmation of Forney's illicit activities. With the evidence in hand, authorities were able to secure a search and arrest warrant for Forney, who, born on October 20, 1983, has been a Cal Fire employee since 2023 and has served in various Californian cities including Patterson, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz.
The investigation revealed that Forney had previous run-ins with the law in Idaho, completing parole in 2024 for offenses not related to child sexual exploitation. Nevertheless, he now faces a series of charges: Penal Code 311.11(a) for possession/distribution of obscene material depicting a minor, Penal Code 311.11(c)(1) involving a sex act with a minor under 12, Penal Code 311.3(a) for sexual depiction of a minor engaged in sexual conduct, and Penal Code 647.6(a)(1), a misdemeanor for annoying or molesting a victim under 18 years of age, the department's Facebook post detailed.
As Forney was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail, the Manteca Police Department has urged the public to come forward with any information related to the case or instances where children may have been victimized by Forney. Detective Phillips can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at (209) 456-8101. For any tips, the public is encouraged to reference case #25-02083, as the investigation continues and authorities work to uncover any further victims.
