A Missouri man has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the online exploitation of a Placer County child, authorities announced Wednesday.
According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, 32-year-old Steven Ohrie Williams III was taken into custody on Tuesday, November 4, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the St. Charles County Police Department, and the St. Charles Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The investigation began in April 2025, when Placer County Special Operations Detectives identified Williams as the suspect who had been communicating with a child in the area for the purpose of obtaining illicit material.
Williams is currently awaiting extradition to California, where he faces multiple felony charges, including:
Lewd acts with a minor (PC 288(c)(1))
Possession of child pornography (PC 311.11(a))
Distribution of harmful material to a minor (PC 288.2(a)(2))
Contacting a minor with intent to commit an offense (PC 288.3(a))
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation, and there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 886-5375.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children, stating:
“We are committed to safeguarding our community’s youth and will stop at nothing to identify, locate, and apprehend individuals involved in crimes against children.”
Officials also used the case to remind parents about online safety, noting that predators often use popular apps such as Kik, Snapchat, Discord, Roblox, and Yubo to contact minors under the guise of friendship.
Parents are encouraged to maintain open communication with their children about their online activity, check device privacy settings, and monitor app usage.
For more information and internet safety resources, visit the Placer County District Attorney’s Office AppSafe page at placer.ca.gov/AppSafe.