SANTA ANA, California
A convicted sex offender faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison after his arrest Thursday on a five-count federal grand jury indictment alleging he tried to use the Reddit internet platform to solicit sex with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl, officials stated.
However, the girl was in law enforcement instead.
Shaw Warrington, 34, of San Juan Capistrano, is charged with one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, one count of attempted production of child pornography, one count of commission of a felony offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Warrington pleaded not guilty Thursday to the charges against him. A trial date of July 16 has been scheduled in this case. A federal magistrate judge ordered Warrington jailed without bond.
According to the indictment returned on Wednesday and unsealed today, in January and February of 2023, Warrington used the Reddit website to attempt to solicit sex from minors in Orange County.
An undercover law enforcement official responded to Warrington’s requests and eventually scheduled a meeting at a Newport Beach shopping center, where Warrington believed he would engage in criminal sexual activity, the indictment alleges.
Instead, Warrington was arrested after appearing at the meeting location.
A search of Warrington’s cellphone allegedly returned two images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Law enforcement also seized a firearm and more than 350 rounds of ammunition from Warrington’s residence.
Warrington is not permitted to possess them because of his 2013 felony conviction in Orange County Superior Court for meeting a minor with the intent to engage in lewd conduct.
As a result of that conviction, Warrington is required to register as a sex offender.
Warrington is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
If convicted of the charges, Warrington faces up to life in prison.
The FBI and the Newport Beach Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin J. Campbell of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.