Authorities in Daly City have arrested a man of charges of child pornography for allegedly helping undress a 12-year-old girl while photographing her for a modeling portfolio.
Police fear that the suspect, who has lived in the Bay Area for more than a decade, may have been involved in similar unreported incidents due to his job description and physical evidence—including more than 400 computer disks containing images of partially-naked children—that was seized from his home.
Ronal Morales, 45, was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon at his house on Franciscan Drive, one day after conducting the modeling portfolio shoot with an unidentified pre-teen victim at his home.
He faces charges of possession of child pornography and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.
According to Sgt. Donal Griggs, Morales had gotten permission for the shoot from the girl's legal guardian, but had asked that the guardian not be sent to "avoid distractions." Morales then allegedly helped the girl change outfits while secretly videotaping the shoot. That videotape was later seized along with the disks containing pictures of other children.
"He would assist them in changing the attire or outfits worn," Griggs said, noting that no physical or sexual assault took place. Because of the volume of evidence discovered at Morales' residence, people fear more victims may surface.
"We honestly do not know" if there are additional victims," Griggs said. "The volume of materials this guy had...He had a lot of pictures."
Investigators have determined that Morales lived in both San Francisco and Santa Cruz prior to moving to Daly City about 12 years ago. They hope that anyone who has been victimized or who knowns of another city contact police.
"I hope we don't not have another victim come forward," Griggs said. "But we have to prepare for that possibility."
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