Staff Reports

Riverside County – On Tues., Feb. 17, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office announced that charges have been filed against three men for their involvement in a significant ring of human traffickers and child pornographers.

John David Yoder, 43, of Desert Hot Springs, has been charged with one count each of oral copulation of a child under 14, human trafficking of a victim under 18, conspiracy, lewd acts with a child under 14, and aiding to avoid the arrest of another. Yoder entered pleas of not guilty to all charges at his arraignment on Feb. 9.  If convicted as currently charged, Yoder faces a maximum of 35 years to life in prison.

Erick Alan Monsivais, 29, of Los Angeles, has been charged with four counts of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a victim 10 years old or younger, three counts of oral copulation by force or fear of a child under 14, and one count each of lewd acts on a minor under 14 by force or fear and of human trafficking of a victim under 18. Monsivais entered pleas of not guilty to all counts at his arraignment on Feb. 5.  If convicted as currently charged, Monsivais faces a maximum of 167 years to life in prison.

William Clyde Thompson, 54, of Las Vegas, Nevada, has been charged with one count each of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a victim 10 years old or younger, oral copulation or sexual penetration with a victim 10 or younger, sexual assault of a child under 14, lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14, procurement of a child under 16 for lewd and lascivious acts, human trafficking of a victim under 18, use of a minor to perform prohibited acts, sending or bringing into the state child pornography, and conspiracy to commit child pornography. There also will be a sentencing enhancement of multiple victims. Thompson is currently being held in federal custody in Nevada. Because of his federal case status, his arraignment in Riverside County has not yet been scheduled. If convicted as currently charged in Riverside County, Thompson faces a maximum sentence of 85 years to life in prison.

The Riverside County Sexual Assault and Felony Enforcement/Internet Crimes Against Children (SAFE/ICAC) task force began an investigation into this case on Jan. 28, after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about the arrest of Thompson in Nevada.

Among the items seized by authorities subsequent to the arrest was Thompson’s cellular phone, on which was found the phone numbers for Yoder and Monsivais. Investigators believe that Yoder was paid by Thompson to recruit minor boys to be photographed for use in child pornography.

On Jan. 30, investigators determined that Yoder had adopted sons and was a licensed foster care provider in Riverside County. It was also discovered that Yoder worked as a special education teacher’s assistant at Desert Hot Springs High School in the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD). PSUSD is said to be cooperating completely with the District Attorney’s Office and all law enforcement officials.

Riverside County District Attorney, Mike Hestrin, said, “The District Attorney’s Office is committed to doing everything we can do to ensure that those who prey upon our children are brought to justice and to ensure that our children are safe.”

Authorities believe it is possible that there may be additional victims who investigators are not aware of. Anyone who believes they may have had suspicious or illegal contact with any of these defendants is asked to call the SAFE/ICAC task force toll-free at (866) SAFE595 or (866) 723-3595.