Christian Zapien-Becerra

Name of Accused:
Zapien-Becerra, Christian

Date of Arrest:
10/02/2024

Charges For Arrest:
Use/assit Minor In Sex Explicit Conduct/visual Med
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On this day, 10/02/2024, Officer G. Castillo responded to [700 BLOCK] Skylark Pl in reference to a disturbance. On the way to [700 BLOCK] Skylark Pl, dispatch advised me that the caller, later identified as [WITNESS #1], was acting as a 15-year-old decoy and that a 22 year old male came to the apartments to meet with the 15 year old decoy. [WITNESS #1] also advised through dispatch that the 22-year-old male stated he had child pornography on his phone.
Upon my arrival, I met with [WITNESS #2], and he stated that the 22-year-old male, later identified as Christian Zapien-Becerra came to this location to have sex with who he believed was a 15 year old female. [WITNESS #2] stated that he had texts messages showing where Christian initiated the conversation with [WITNESS #1]’s profile on “meetme”. I read the messages and saw that “[REDACTED]” pretty quickly disclosed to Christian that she was only 15 years old and he continued to chat with her and even asked if she was looking to have sex. [WITNESS #2] explained that after a while they moved the conversation to snapchat. [WITNESS #2] stated that they talked about meeting up and Christian asked [REDACTED] to send him a picture of one of her naked breasts to prove that she was not going to get him in trouble. In the messages he acknowledged that what he was doing was illegal by saying that he could “catch a case” for being 22 years old and trying to meet up with a 15 year old female for sex.
[WITNESS #2] then stated that Christian wanted to meet with [WITNESS #1] in person for sex, still under the impression that she was 15 years old. [WITNESS #2] stated that was when Christian stated that he could meet up around 21:00 in Dalton.
[WITNESS #2] stated that when Christian arrived he and [WITNESS #3] confronted Christian about what he intended to do there. [WITNESS #2] stated that they informed Christian that they are not police and that he is free to leave at anytime. [WITNESS #2] stated that Christian admitted to having explicit photos of minors on his cell phone. [WITNESS #3] stated that he was recording the entire interaction on his cellphone for his safety.
Upon speaking to Christian he stated he made a mistake. Christian stated he arrived to [700 BLOCK] Skylark Pl to meet with a female who he thought was 15 years old but that he had no real intentions to have any sexual relations with her. Christian then stated that he did in fact possess child porn on his phone.
At this point Lt Houck, Officer Morang and Officer Miller took the lead in speaking with Christian.
Lt Houck asked Christian for consent to search his vehicle and Christian stated yes. Lt Houck and I searched the vehicle but did not find any evidence or anything illegal. Once the vehicle was secured I was ordered by Lt Houck to place Christian under arrest. I then double lock his handcuffs and read him his miranda rights. Christian asked if he should speak to an attorney and Lt. Houck told him that this was up to him. He then stated that he wanted an attorney. Officer Morang then asked if Christian was willing to speak with a detective or wanted an attorney. Christian stated he understood and that he consented to speaking with a detective in regards to this case without an attorney present. I then searched Christian incident to arrest and asked him if he is a United States citizen and he stated yes.
I then seatbelted Christian into my patrol vehicle and transported him to 301 Jones St to speak with Detective Edwards.
Once Detective Edwards was done with his interview. I handcuffed Christian again, double locked his handcuffs, and seatbelted him into my patrol car. I then transported him to the Whitfield Count Jail. Upon my arrival to the jail I secured my firearm in a lockbox and transferred Christian along with his property to jail staff.
I charged Christian on warrantless arrest form #69518 for the following charge.
16-12-100 Sexual exploitation of children.
I the returned to my patrol car and searched the back seat to make sure Christian did not leave anything behind and secured my firearm.
I then made my way to 301 Jones St to place Christians apple cell phone into property and evidence.
This incident is cleared by arrest.
[End of Narrative]