Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Palm Desert Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Police say the man's arrest was the result of a weeks-long investigation.

This story was updated July 19 to include a booking photo of the suspect.  Original story published July 18, 2013 at 07:07 pm:

A 51-year-old Palm Desert man accused of having child pornography at his home was arrested Thursday, police said.

Dirk Hampel was arrested on charges of possession of child pornography, failure to register as a sex offender, and violation of probation, according to Riverside County Sheriff's Sergeant Tom Brewster.

"Investigators from the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station conducted a two-week investigation reference a suspect in possession of child pornography which culminated today," Brewster said of the arrest.

Hampel was booked at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning; bail information wasn't immediately available.   The man had just pleaded guilty on June 25 to felony possession of child pornography after an arrest by Palm Springs police, along with drug-related charges, and was sentenced to three years probation, according to court records.

The arrest was made at Hampel's residence within a mobile home park located on the 49000 block of Highway 74 in Palm Desert, according to Brewster.

Anyone with information about Hampel was asked to call investigators at (760) 836-1600 or by calling Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867. Tips can be anonymous and may lead to a cash reward.


– City News Service contributed to this report.


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