Man Arrested in Computer Sex Case

VENTURA — A Ventura man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of arranging to have sex with an undercover police officer who was posing as a 13-year-old boy during online computer correspondence, authorities said.

David J. Schneider, 59, was jailed about 4:30 p.m. on suspicion of soliciting sex with a minor after he arrived for a meeting at a Sacramento hotel room, Ventura Police Sgt. Richard Morris said.

At the time of the arrest, Sacramento police--who had coordinated the investigation--seized examples of child pornography and sexually explicit videotapes, devices used during sex, cameras and copies of electronic mail correspondence between Schneider and the undercover officer.

Also on Wednesday afternoon, Ventura police officers served a search warrant at Schneider’s apartment on Del Norte Street in Ventura and found more sexually explicit items, Morris said.

The arrest was the result of several months of investigation that started after Schneider began sending e-mail to the fictitious boy, authorities said.