Police: Ashton Kutcher A Mere Observer in Marin County Child Porn Raids

By Bay City News Service

San Jose police today said actor Ashton Kutcher was present at child pornography raids in Marin County Thursday but did not enter any residences and was not involved in enforcement actions.

Five people were arrested by the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children task force, or SVICAC, on suspicion of possessing child pornography. More than 70 detectives from 23 law enforcement agencies participated in the raids in Fairfax, Bolinas, Larkspur, San Rafael and in Novato where a 16-year-old boy was cited and released.

The four adults were booked in the Marin County jail, San Rafael police said. San Jose police Officer Jose Garcia responded today to media inquiries about Kutcher's involvement in the raids.

Kutcher and Demi Moore founded the Demi and Ashton Foundation (DNA Foundation) that shares the same goals as the SVICAC, Garcia said. The DNA Foundation reached out to the SVICAC on a recommendation of a Silicon Valley company that works with federal enforcement agencies on similar investigations, Garcia said.

Kutcher and the director of the DNA Foundation accompanied the SVICAC's investigators during the porn sweep Thursday, Garcia said. "Mr. Kutcher observed the operation on behalf of the DNA Foundation," Garcia said. "Current case law and San Jose Police Department policy prohibits civilian ride-along and observers from entering residences during search warrants or other police enforcement action. Mr. Kutcher did not enter any residences and was not involved in any enforcement action," Garcia said.