Child Sex Predator Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sean E. Karjala, 53, formerly of Red Bluff, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 30 years in prison and a life term of supervised release for production of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Karjala’s federal sentence will be served concurrently with his state sentence of 36 years to life for the attempted murder of a California Highway Patrol Officer.

According to court documents, in 2013, Karjala engaged in a months-long inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor female victim after she answered an online Craigslist advertisement. Karjala repeatedly raped the minor victim and subjected her to bondage and other physical abuse. Karjala manipulated the victim into sexual activity with another female and took photos of the activity with his cellphone camera.

After Karjala communicated with an undercover police officer whom he believed was another minor female, investigators searched Karjala’s residence. During the search, investigators found multiple sexual bondage materials including a matching pink and white ankle and wrist cuff set and a collar that Karjala had described in conversations with the undercover officer. They also found clothing commonly associated with younger females and a photo of Karjala and the victim. In Karjala’s vehicle, investigators found a duffle bag containing a bondage manual, condoms, and a local high school counseling slip with the victim’s name. Investigators also located numerous images on Karjala’s cellphone of the victim engaged in sexual acts with another female.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Tehama County District Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heiko P. Coppola and Roger Yang prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.