People v. Thomas CA4/3

FACTS

On the morning of October 25, 2012, computer technician John Edwards went to Coastline Podiatry in Santa Ana to install a scanner/copier at appellant’s office. Appellant was not present at the time, but in order to complete the job, Edwards had to access the “default folder” on appellant’s computer. When he did, approximately 20 “thumbnail” photographs of young girls appeared on the screen. The girls, who Edwards estimated were seven to eight years old, were naked from the waist down, and one of them had her legs spread out, revealing her vaginal area. Edwards did not say anything to anyone in appellant’s office about the pictures. But later that day, he called the police and told Corporal Israel Garcia what he had seen. Garcia promptly relayed the information to sex crimes Detective Mike Judson, the lead investigator on the case. Judson instructed Garcia to go to appellant’s office that afternoon and see if he could get appellant’s consent to search his computer. However, when Garcia went to appellant’s office, appellant was not there. So, at Garcia’s request, the office receptionist contacted appellant and put him on the phone with Garcia. Garcia told appellant he was…