FRESNO, Calif. - An Orangevale man has been sentenced to 78 months in prison for possession of child pornography and using the Internet in an attempt to solicit sex from a minor following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.

Luis Aroldo Zuniga, 42, was sentenced here yesterday by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii. As part of his sentence, Zuniga will be on supervised release for an additional 180 months following his release from prison, during which time his access to children and the Internet will be restricted. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Zuniga, who pleaded guilty to the charges late last year, admitted that in April and May of 2006, he used the Internet to engage in multiple online chat sessions with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. In fact, the "girl" was an undercover law enforcement officer. These chat sessions included graphic discussions of specific sexual activities Zuniga wanted to engage in with the minor. Zuniga also admitted that he traveled from his Orangevale residence to Salida, Calif. with the intention of meeting the "girl."

Zuniga also acknowledged that in May 2005 he knowingly possessed more than 150 images of child pornography, including many featuring minors engaged in sadistic, masochistic, or other violent conduct.

Zuniga has been in custody since pleading guilty in October 2006.

-- ICE --