SANTA ANA, California
A former Orange County social worker plead guilty Monday to a federal criminal charge that he distributed computer video child-porn files, according to officials.
The files contained sexually explicit videos depicting children, including infants and toddlers, officials stated.
Carlos Castillo, 62, of Santa Ana, pleaded guilty via videoconference to single-count information charging him with the distribution of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, Castillo worked at Orange County’s Social Services Agency from May 2002 to January 2020.
Beginning in August 2007, Castillo was a placement senior social worker whose responsibilities included assessing applicants’ suitability to provide care of children who are in protective custody, completing a home and grounds environment assessment, and placing children into homes.
In November 2019, Castillo knowingly distributed child pornography consisting of three video files, the plea agreement states.
Castillo admitted that he, using the screen name “Ratster12” as a member of a child pornography group that used the LiveMe application, posted a link to another webpage containing three videos depicting prepubescent children, including infants and toddlers, who were being sexually assaulted by adults and other children.
Castillo also admitted that in January 2020 he possessed a Dell computer, two flash drives, and an Apple iPhone that contained at least 1,027 videos and 914 images of child pornography.
Castillo further admitted that he possessed videos of minors undressing that Castillo had recorded from LiveMe.
In addition, he admitted to possession of pictures of minors in public without the authorization or knowledge of the minors or their parents.
U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney scheduled an April 19 sentencing hearing.
Castillo faces up to 20 years in federal prison, according to authorities.