From the Office of the District Attorney:
Martinez, California – Several Bay Area men are being charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office with offenses related to child exploitation.
The arrests occurred after the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted Operation Broken Heart from February 26, 2024, to March 7, 2024. Six men in total were arrested – four of whom have been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney. Two cases are still being reviewed by prosecutors.
The purpose of Operation Broken Heart was to identify individuals on the internet with the intent to travel to meet minors and engage in sex acts. The operation was run by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the Danville Police Department in conjunction with multiple local, state, and federal agencies that make up the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said, “The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has been an integral part of my office’s policies on public safety. Operation Broken Heart is an example of how the District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement work together in making Contra Costa County safer from those who engage in criminal acts to harm children.”
The following is a summary of each arrest:
Joseph Rudolfo Martinez, 38-years-old, Union City Resident
On February 26, 2024, Joseph Martinez began to chat with two undercover officers, posing as 13-year-old girls. Martinez sent the officers images of his genitals and indicated he was a teacher, and that the image of his genitals was taken in his classroom. It was determined Martinez was a 10th grade English teacher at Tennyson High School in Hayward. Martinez also asked the minors to produce child sexual abuse material for him. On March 1, 2024, a search warrant was executed at his house in Union City. Martinez was arrested and booked for sending harmful material to a minor and the attempted production of child pornography. Martinez has since posted bail and the case is being reviewed by prosecutors.
James Paul Walsh, 44-years-old, Hayward Resident
On March 1, 2024, James Walsh engaged in chats with an undercover officer posting as a 13-year-old girl. Walsh told the undercover officer he wanted to pick her up and transport her to his huse in Hayward to engage in sex acts. When Walsh arrived at an apartment complex in Danville, he was taken into custody. Walsh was booked for attempting to kidnap a minor for sex (PC 664/207(b), attempted lewd acts with a minor (664/288(a)), and arranging to meet a minor for sex (PC 288.4(b). Walsh posted bail and the case is being reviewed by prosecutors.
Alexander Derrick Hellmund, 59-years-old, Concord Resident
On February 29, 2024, Alexander Hellmund arrived at an apartment complex in Danville to pick up a 13-year-old boy and take the minor to Concord to engage in sex acts with him. Hellmund was arrested and booked for felonies including, attempting to kidnap a minor for sex (PC 664/207(b), attempted lewd acts with a minor (664/288(a), and arranging to meet a minor for sex (PC 288.4(b). On March 4, 2024, Hellmund was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with the above-mentioned felonies.
Elmer Desiderio Ramirez-Lucha, 45-years-old, Pittsburg Resident
On February 28, 2024, Elmer Ramirez arrived at an apartment complex in Danville to meet a 13-year-old girl to engage in sex acts. Ramirez was arrested and booked for felonies, including attempted lewd acts with a minor (664/288(a) and arranging to meet a minor for sex (PC 288.4(b). On March 1, 2024, Ramirez was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with the above-mentioned felonies.
Mahmut Guzelsu, 27-years-old, Benicia Resident
On February 28, 2024, Mahmut Guzelsu arrived at a park in Danville to meet a 13-year-old girl to engage in sex acts. Guzelsu was arrested and booked for felonies, including attempted lewd acts with a minor (664/288(a) and arranging to meet a minor for sex (PC 288.4(b). He was released on bail. Guzelsu was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with the above-mentioned felonies.
Brady Allen Godsey-Lally, 27-years-old, Brentwood Resident
On March 7, 2024, Brady Godsey-Lally arrived at an apartment complex in Danville to meet a 13-year-old girl to engage in sex acts. Godsey was arrested and booked for felonies, including attempted lewd acts with a minor (664/288(a) and arranging to meet a minor for sex (PC 288.4(b). On March 11, 2024, Godsey was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with the above-mentioned felonies.
The Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is comprised of
detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Concord, Brentwood, Danville, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Pittsburg and Oakley Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Special Agents and forensic examiners from the United States Secret Service, Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, and Inspectors from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
ICAC would like to thank the San Jose Police Department, the FBI, and the Contra Costa County Safe Streets Task Force for their substantial assistance in the operation.
Parents, guardians, and caretakers are encouraged to talk to their children about social media and smartphone safety. Resources for these topics can be found at the website for the Silicon Valley Iternet Crimes Against Children Task Force, svicac.org, and Common Sense Media, commonsensemedia.org.
“in the streets, for all the people to see”
Toby Keith
Firestone 11R
As a taxpayer I would support funding for partial sex change (removal would suffice) for any male convicted of this who wishes to agree to it in exchange for a reduced sentence. A few ounces of prevention equals a permanent cure.
Just more minor attracted people we should try to understand better.