Former San Diego State University Police Sergeant Sentenced to Almost 4 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

LOS ANGELES - A former sergeant with the San Diego State University Police Department was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for possessing more than 600 images that contained sexually explicit videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Paul Aurelio McClain, 47, of Menifee, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who also ordered McClain to be placed on supervised release for 20 years following his release from federal prison, and ordered him to pay a total of $22,100 in special assessments, including a $17,000 special assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

McClain pleaded guilty on March 18 to one count of possession of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.

According to his plea agreement, in July and August of 2024, law enforcement conducting an undercover operation on a peer-to-peer network determined that an Internet Protocol (IP) address linked to McClain's home in Riverside County had been used to possess a sexually explicit video of a girl who appeared to be approximately 6 to 8 years of age.

In March 2025, federal agents executed search warrants at McClain's home and seized multiple digital devices, including a hard drive that contained videos of girls who appeared to be approximately 8 to 10 years old.

Law enforcement found other CSAM files during this investigation, totaling more than 600 images.

McClain admitted in his plea agreement that he knowingly possessed CSAM that he downloaded from the internet onto his digital devices, that he knew the depictions involved the use of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and that the CSAM depicted real children who were less than 18 years old.

He further admitted to knowingly possessing CSAM that he downloaded from the internet depicted prepubescent minors and minors who had not yet reached the age of 12 years old.

"Possession and trade of child pornography is abhorrent in and of itself, but it is especially disturbing and unacceptable considering [McClain's] role in the community as a member of law enforcement and a university police department," prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter 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.

Assistant United States Attorneys Cory L. Burleson of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Sonah Lee of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.