Bakersfield man arrested for communicating with minors and sending harmful material

PORTERVILLE, Calif. — Detectives with the Porterville Police Department arrested a man following an extensive investigation into allegations that he contacted a minor and sent harmful material.

Police say Eladio Cordero Lara, 22, of Bakersfield, sent illegal messages to a minor in Porterville.

A Tulare County Superior Court judge signed an arrest warrant for Lara on charges of communicating with a minor for sexual purposes, sending harmful material and possession of child pornography.

Detectives from the Porterville Police Department and officers from the Bakersfield Police Department executed a search warrant at his Bakersfield home, where he was taken into custody Monday morning.

During the search, detectives collected various electronic devices from Lara’s home for further forensic analysis.

Lara is currently being held at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office South County Detention Facility and his bail has been set at $95,000.

The Porterville Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding this investigation to call them at (559) 782-7400.

Information may also be provided anonymously.