LOS ANGELES — A former sergeant with the San Diego State University Police Department was sentenced Wednesday to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing more than 600 files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Paul Aurelio McClain, 47, of Menifee, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. In addition to the prison sentence, McClain was ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release and pay $22,100 in special assessments, including a $17,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
McClain pleaded guilty on March 18 to one federal count of possessing child sexual abuse material. He has remained in federal custody since March 2025.
Quick Facts
- Defendant: Paul Aurelio McClain, 47
- Former Position: Sergeant, San Diego State University Police Department
- Sentence: 46 months in federal prison
- Supervised Release: 20 years
- Conviction: Possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
- Evidence: More than 600 images and videos
- Investigating Agency: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
According to court records, investigators conducting an undercover operation on a peer-to-peer file-sharing network in 2024 traced an internet protocol (IP) address linked to McClain’s Riverside County home to a file depicting the sexual abuse of a young child.
Federal agents executed search warrants at his residence in March 2025 and seized multiple electronic devices. Investigators recovered more than 600 images and videos containing CSAM, including material depicting prepubescent children.
In his plea agreement, McClain admitted he knowingly downloaded and possessed the illegal material, understood it depicted real children under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and acknowledged that some victims were younger than 12 years old.
Federal prosecutors argued the offense was particularly troubling because McClain served as a sworn law enforcement officer at a university police department, stating that the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material is especially egregious given his position of public trust.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the West Covina Police Department, the San Bernardino Police Department, the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team and the San Diego State University Police Department.