A 25-year-old Salinas police officer is facing a felony charge after investigators say he possessed child sexual abuse material, a case that has now moved from quiet internal concern to a full-blown criminal prosecution.
Officer Brian Jimenez-Gomez was charged Monday and had already been on administrative leave for months, after the Salinas Police Department flagged concerns late last year and sent them to outside investigators. Prosecutors say the criminal complaint alleges a single felony count under state law, and authorities emphasize there is no indication of local victims or any alleged physical contact with a minor in the charging documents.
Charges and penalties
The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint alleging a violation of California Penal Code section 311.11(a), the office said. According to Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, Jimenez-Gomez faces possible probation, 16 months, or up to two years in state prison if convicted, along with lifetime sex offender registration.
How the probe unfolded
Salinas Police Chief Carlos Acosta said in a statement that the department received information late last year and, "in the interest of transparency and accountability," immediately turned the matter over to the San Jose Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force while placing Jimenez-Gomez on leave.
The San Jose Police Department, which leads that task force, said in a statement to KSBW that it served as the lead investigative agency before handing the case off to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
Timeline
The criminal complaint lists an alleged offense date of on or about Oct. 1, 2025, according to Monterey County Now. The District Attorney’s Office has also stated that investigators are not aware of any known local victims and that the charges do not allege Jimenez-Gomez created the images or had physical contact with a minor, according to its news release.
Legal context
Under California Penal Code section 311.11(a), possessing material that depicts a person under 18 engaged in sexual conduct is a felony. As outlined by the California Legislative Information, the statute carries potential penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
The District Attorney’s Office noted that a conviction in this case would also require lifetime registration under California’s Sex Offender Registration Act. Registration requirements for qualifying offenses are detailed in Penal Code section 290.005.
What’s next
Jimenez-Gomez was booked on May 18, according to local reporting, and prosecutors filed the complaint this week. Both the Salinas Police Department and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office say the San Jose ICAC Task Force handled the initial investigative work, and the department has publicly pledged to hold its employees to "the highest standards" as the case moves forward, according to public statements and local coverage.
