Ex-Livermore Day Care Center Worker Charged In Child Porn Case

Livermore CA

16 April, 2021

3:38 PM

Description

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A day care worker who previously worked at two child care centers in Livermore was charged with possessing child pornography, federal officials said. Jace D. Wong was arrested Tuesday, according to a complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He faces a penalty of up to 10 to 20 years behind bars and a fine up to $250,000 plus restitution and other fees if convicted. Wong remains in Alameda County's Santa Rita Jail and he cannot be released on bail. An attorney for Wong has not responded to a Patch request for comment. Wong was working at Mission Head Start on 18th Street in San Francisco at the time of his arrest, FBI spokesperson Katherine Zackel told Patch. He previously worked for Community Association for Preschool Education Inc.'s Head Start program at the Bess Platt Center and at a day care at Las Positas College, according to the FBI. Patch reached out to CAPE and Las Positas College Friday morning for comment. The investigation into Wong began after he and an undercover officer were placed into a group chat on smartphone messaging app Kik that was used to share materials depicting the sexual abuse of children, according to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Benjamin I. Burnheimer. Wong allegedly shared five nude videos and photos of a girl who appeared to be 4 to 6 years old and talked about abusing a child in their sleep, according to the affidavit. Wong eventually shared his Reddit username in the group chat, which allowed officers to track down his place of employment and confirm his identity, according to the affidavit. The videos appeared to be taken in the bathroom of Mission Head Start, according to the affidavit. Wong admitted to the FBI that he sent and received explicit photos of children on Kik, including videos taken at his work, according to the affidavit.