SLO County man found with more than 600 child sex abuse images, sheriff says
A Cambria man was arrested for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material earlier this month, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 10, the Sheriff’s Office’s Detective Division served a warrant at a home in the 400 block of Leighton Street, according to a news release.
The suspect, 45-year-old Cambria resident Roberto Mercado Leonardo, was arrested on suspicion of charges related to the possession of more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material, according to the release.
The arrest came at the conclusion of an investigation that started in April, when the Sheriff’s Office and San Luis Obispo Police Department received multiple tips regarding the possession of child pornography, according to the release.
Mercado Leonardo was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail but was released after posting bail, according to the release.
It’s still undetermined if there are any local victims associated with the suspect, and anyone with additional information can contact the Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 805-781-4500 or Crimestoppers at 805-549-7867.
This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 5:07 PM.
