O.C. Firefighter Held on Suspicion of Distributing Infant, Child Porn

An Orange County firefighter was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of distributing child pornography over the Internet, authorities said.

Tyrone A. Ganoe of Norwalk, who first came to the attention of an undercover federal agent two years ago, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at a county fire station in Cypress as he was finishing his shift, officials said.

“The material uncovered and seized is some of the most disturbing and offensive materials that we’ve discovered,” said George Guzman, an assistant special agent at the agency.

Ganoe, 41, was released Thursday on $200,000 bond. He will be arraigned Tuesday on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Authorities began their investigation after Ganoe offered to share his files of child pornography with the undercover agent, who was monitoring the Internet for such activity, Guzman said.

Agents searched his home, which he shares with his mother, and seized his computer, which they said contained more than 70 images and movie files of infants and children being sexually abused.

His attorney, Blaire Berk, said Ganoe had been a dedicated firefighter who cared for his mother. She said he would prove his innocence.

“It’s an inaccuracy to claim that he was selling or sending out images,” Berk said. She declined to elaborate.

Ganoe has been a firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority for 16 years.

He is also the leader of a band called Ty & the Troublemakers, authorities said.

Ganoe was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of his case, said Capt. Stephen Miller, a Fire Authority spokesman.

The Fire Authority is also conducting an investigation into Ganoe’s activity at work.

“We don’t condone this type of activity on or off duty, so we’re cooperating with officials,” Miller said.

“We’re saddened, but until we find the end results of these charges, at that time we’ll take the appropriate actions.”

If convicted, Ganoe will face up to 15 years in prison.

The arrest is part of Operation Predator, an ongoing ICE effort to track down child-sex predators.