Goleta man sentenced for child sexual abuse, child pornography

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Goleta man accused of being a serial sexual predator who abused preteen and teenage girls he met online and by volunteering at school events was sentenced Thursday to four years in state prison.

Zachary Arthur Warburg, 32, was sentenced as part of a deal he made with prosecutors to plead guilty to felony counts of child sexual abuse and child pornography in exchange for a lighter sentence than he could have received had he gone to trial and been convicted on all counts.

“The sentencing went forward this morning in front of Judge (Thomas R.) Adams …,” Deputy District Attorney Sarah Barkley told the News-Press. “Neither the judge nor any victims made statements at the sentencing hearing.”

Mr. Warburg pleaded guilty to four felonies and three misdemeanors in a plea bargain he reached with Santa Barbara County prosecutors at a Nov. 30 pretrial hearing.

The deal meant none of his young victims had to testify in open court.

“By reaching a plea negotiation in this case, the victims will not have to suffer the trauma of a lengthy trial or relive the abuse and unwanted sexual advances through testimony,” prosecutor Barkley said previously. “It is my hope that this plea and sentence will give the victims closure and help them move forward

New resource page covers aid for storm victims

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

This week, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal launched a resource page on his website to provide information on federal aid available to families and businesses in his district who were impacted by this month’s severe storms and flooding.

After securing a major disaster declaration from President Joe Biden for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, Rep. Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, is using this page to note that residents and local business owners are now eligible to file claims for assistance in the form of grants and low-interest loans from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“This month’s severe storms caused widespread damage, made scores of homes temporarily unlivable, and caused businesses to shutter until floodwaters and other debris could be removed — which is why I pushed President Biden to approve a major disaster declaration for our region,” Rep. Carbajal said in a news release. “I’ve seen firsthand the devastation in both SLO and Santa Barbara communities, and have encouraged all that I’ve met to file FEMA claims as soon as possible to get a helping hand. My office is using every tool and connection at our disposal to get this information out to those impacted, and I encourage everyone to share this new resource page with people they know who were impacted in these areas.”

Individuals living in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo counties can find more information in English and Spanish at carbajal.house.gov/ storm. Claims can be started at disasterassistance.gov.

Disaster-related assistance provided by FEMA can include: email: kzehnder@newspress.com on their path toward healing.

• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable.

• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items.

• Unemployment payments for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for state benefits (selfemployed).

• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance.

• Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster.

• Advisory assistance for legal veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

Small Business Administration loans may also be available to individuals and businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, inventory and supplies.

While residents of Ventura County can’t currently apply for these FEMA grants, Rep. Carbajal has urged President Biden and FEMA to expand the disaster declaration to include that part of his district.

Estimates provided to Rep. Carbajal show more than 100 structures in Ventura were impacted by this month’s storms.

“Additionally, it is my hope that the consequences of his plea, including sex offender registration and his state prison sentence, prevent Mr. Warburg from committing future offenses and protect the children and teens of our community from further victimization.”

Two of the felonies, lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under 14 and dissuading a witness, will count as strikes under the state’s Three Strikes law, she said.

Mr. Warburg also pleaded guilty to felony charges of possession of child pornography and attempting to contact a minor to commit lewd acts.

The three misdemeanors all involved annoying, harassing or molesting a child with lewd intent. “In the legal sense, molesting means bothering (not physical child sexual abuse),” the prosecutor said.

In addition to the prison term, Mr. Warburg will have to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutor Barkley told the News-Press previously that the defendant was a local photographer who did on-scene photography at local newsworthy incidents (emergencies, fires, accidents etc.). He also volunteered to photograph local youth theater and singing events. Mr. Warburg met his victims through his volunteer work, attendance at local youth performance events and online, the prosecutor said.

The criminal investigation against Mr. Warburg began after a school resource deputy