Lake Forest pair arrested in Costa Mesa for possession of explicit content involving minors

COSTA MESA, Calif. – (Sept. 14, 2024) The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is seeking potential additional victims of a man and woman who were arrested in Costa Mesa and found to be in possession of numerous images and videos of explicit content involving minors.

On Sept. 7, 2024, the suspect, Jonathan Garduno, 30, Lake Forest, arrived in Costa Mesa to meet with someone he thought was a 15-year-old girl but was actually a Special Investigations detective who had been posing as a minor online. Garduno was arrested at the scene for trying to meet a minor with intent to commit a sex act and his cell phone was booked as evidence. Garduno posted bail the same day.

Detectives continued their investigation involving Garduno and located videos and images of explicit content involving minors on his cell phone as well as evidence that he had been distributing the material to others. Detectives also connected Garduno’s live-in girlfriend, Khyla Kauffeld, 29, Lake Forest, to the crime.

Yesterday, Sept. 13, CMPD detectives, along with HSI – Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force, executed a search warrant at the suspect’s Lake Forest residence and uncovered further evidence of explicit content involving minors. Both Garduno and Kauffeld were then located and arrested. Garduno was booked into CMPD Jail on charges of possession of explicit content involving minors, sending/selling explicit content involving minors, and distribution of obscene matter depicting minors. Kauffeld was booked into CMPD Jail on possession of explicit content involving minors.

Last night, both arrestees bailed out. Bail schedules are not set by CMPD but are based on the legal charging penal codes.

Due to the combination of Garduno trying to meet a 15-year-old girl with intent to commit a sex act and the further evidence of explicit content involving minors found by detectives, CMPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying potential additional victims, as well as additional information related to this case. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Gardner at (714) 754-4937.