A Yuba County child sex predator was arraigned Friday on suspicion of contacting a minor in Colusa County with intent to commit a sexual offense.
Tony Anthony Underwood, 35, is being held in Colusa County Jail on $1 million bail, following his arrest Thursday at his Oliverhurst home by investigators from the District Attorney’s office.
The DA, with assistance from the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, began investigating Underwood in January, relating to his alleged communications with a Colusa County minor for sexually explicit purposes and for sending harmful matter to a juvenile.
“The victimization of youth on the internet by sexual predators plagues society,” said District Attorney Matthew Beauchamp, in a statement. “With the ever growing use, availability, and appeal of social media, on-line targeting of minors by adults for sexual purposes will unfortunately continue. The Colusa County District Attorney’s Office has taken a zero-tolerance stance against the internet predation and victimization of children on-line by adults.”
Beauchamp said substantial evidence was collected to show that Underwood, while on parole from his previous predatory crime of communicating with a minor for sexual purposes, allegedly engaged in the unlawful online activity involving a minor.
Underwood was previously convicted in 2007 after pleading guilty to having unlawful contact with a minor in Yuba County. He was sentenced to five years in state prison, but was released on parole in 2011, with an assessment that he was at high risk to reoffend, according to the Megan’s Law website.
Underwood appeared in Colusa County Superior Court on Monday, where he was appointed Public Defender Albert Smith to represent him. He is scheduled to enter a plea on the charges on Feb. 14.
Beauchamp stated his office, working in partnership with the SHCTF, has taken a proactive approach to combating internet child predation, and encourages parents to be aware of the activities of their children when on-line or when using various social media platforms.
Beauchamp advises parents who would like to learn more about online safety to reach out to their local law enforcement agency or contact the investigators at the Colusa County District Attorney’s Office.■