Biggs, CA – Earlier this year, Butte County Sheriff’s Office detectives began investigating Stephen Wortham, age 58, of Biggs.
Wortham is required to register with law enforcement pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act. On November 2, 2020, Wortham arrived at the Butte County Sheriff’s Office to update his sex offender registration as required by law. During the registration process, detectives obtained Wortham’s cellular telephone.
Detectives conducted a forensic search of Wortham’s cellular telephone and located multiple images of child pornography. On November 3, detectives contacted Wortham and placed him under arrest for a felony count of possessing child pornography. During a follow-up investigation, detectives located evidence showing Wortham used his cellular telephone to download child pornography.
Wortham was booked into the Butte County Jail on the afternoon of November 3. Wortham is scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on Thursday, November 5, at 3 PM. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information about this investigation to contact Detective Mary Barker or Detective Jason Miller at 530-538-7671.