Tuolumne County High-Risk Supervision Team (HRST), consisting of Sheriff’s Deputies and Probation Officers, shut down an operation in which a Sonora man used the social media app Snapchat to trade sex acts and explicit photos for drugs. On Tuesday, HRST followed up on a tip of suspicious behavior involving 30-year-old David Pacheco of Sonora. Pacheco, actively on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS), was contacted at his home in Crystal Falls. HRST conducted a search of David’s home, vehicle, and storage unit.

They uncovered over 14 pounds of marijuana, nearly two ounces of psilocybin mushrooms, concentrated marijuana, marijuana vape pens, tobacco products, alcohol products, and various marijuana laced snack products including candy, cereal, and fun sized bags of chips.

With the help of our School Resource Officer Deputy Boujikian, the investigation uncovered that Pacheco used Snapchat to send and receive sexually explicit images and videos with juveniles in exchange for marijuana products. He also engaged in sex acts with minors in exchange for drugs. Pacheco admitted to selling marijuana to juveniles in the county via the social media app. His operation included having the juveniles “verify” themselves by sending him videos of themselves smoking marijuana before he would allow them into his private chat. Pacheco would then set up an exchange in which the juveniles would place money for the products in their mailboxes.

Based upon a search of the suspect’s phones and an interview with Pacheco, investigators determined that Pacheco sold the items to more than 100 local minors ranging from children in 8th grade through high school.

We want to remind parents to be vigilant. Keep an eye out for snacks in unusual or tampered with packaging and check them for unusual odors. Know who your children are communicating with online and educate them about the dangers of talking with strangers on social media. This is extremely crucial as more kids are home for distance learning during the pandemic.

Pacheco has been booked on a list of charges that include Possession of a narcotic for sale, selling marijuana to a minor, possession of child pornography and commission of sexual acts with a minor.

Due to the continued investigation and sensitive nature of the information, no further information is available at this time. If you suspect that your child may have been a victim or if you have any information related to this case, please contact the Investigations Division at (209)694-2900.
#SayNoToDrugs #deputysheriff

Source = TCSO