The District Attorney’s Office filed child pornography-related charges Wednesday against a Santa Barbara man who currently works for the city.
Dayton Robert Aldrich, 34, faces nine felony charges, according to the criminal complaint.
The charges include: using a minor for sex acts; illegal distribution of media depicting sexual conduct with a person under the age of 18; and two counts of possession or control of child pornography.
The District Attorney’s Office also charged him with possession of an assault rifle; two counts of possession of an assault pistol; having extended capacity magazines; and possession of cocaine while armed with a loaded, operable assault weapon.
Santa Barbara Police arrested Aldrich Monday and the District Attorney’s Office filed charges on Wednesday. The child pornography-related charges are alleged to have occurred between Jan. 1 and Aug. 18, 2025, while the gun and drug-related charges are alleged for the day of the arrest.
Aldrich has worked for the city of Santa Barbara as a community development program specialist since 2024, where his primary responsibility was managing grants and contracts, city spokesman Bryan Latchford said. He added that Aldrich was placed on administrative leave pending processing of the criminal charges.
Aldrich previously worked for the District Attorney’s Office, according to a news release.
He was a legal office professional and Victim Witness Program assistant at the District Attorney’s Office, where he worked from 2015-2017 and 2019-2025.
Aldrich is being held on $1 million bail in the County Jail, according to Sheriff’s Office custody records.
He was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges in Superior Court on Wednesday.
The Winchester Canyon Gun Club said in a statement Wednesday that Aldrich “is no longer qualified to serve as a member of the Board of Directors and has been voted off the board.”
The statement, which was posted to Facebook, said, “the decision was made following careful review and adherence to WCGC’s governing bylaws to ensure compliance and uphold the standards of the organization.”
The club’s vice president will be interim president until the board can select new leadership, the statement said.
