A Lompoc filmmaker allegedly used fake casting calls to reach teenage victims for nearly five years before deputies arrested him this week, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Story Snapshot
- Shane Ryan Gledhill, 46, of Lompoc faces 15 felony charges tied to child sexual abuse and exploitation.
- The investigation began in November 2021 and ran for nearly five years before his arrest.
- Deputies say he used online casting calls and filmmaking projects to contact minors under professional names.
- Investigators believe there may be more victims and are asking the public for help finding them.
Deputies Arrest Lompoc Man On Felony Warrant
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Shane Ryan Gledhill at his Lompoc home on August 3, 2026. He faces 15 felony charges connected to the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Deputies made the arrest using a warrant, which means a judge had already reviewed evidence before signing off on his capture.
The Sheriff’s Office says the warrant came after a long inquiry, not a single walk-in complaint. Investigators spent almost five years building the case before moving to arrest him this week.
Charges Cover Several Types Of Alleged Abuse
The 15 felony counts cover a wide range of alleged crimes. They include child molestation, rape, forcible sexual assault, contacting a minor to commit a sex offense, possessing child sexual abuse material, and giving harmful material to a minor. That mix of charges suggests investigators believe the alleged conduct happened in more than one way and possibly more than once.
Court records laying out the exact evidence behind each charge, such as witness statements or forensic reports, are not yet public. The Sheriff’s Office announcement lists the charge categories but does not include victim names, dates, or the specific proof tied to each count.
Investigation Traces Back To 2021 Report
The case started in November 2021, when a 17-year-old came forward with a report, according to details tied to the Sheriff’s Office investigation. That single report reportedly grew into a broader inquiry that identified nine survivors over the following years.
Investigators say Gledhill, who also worked as a filmmaker in the Lompoc area, used online casting calls and film projects to contact minors. He allegedly used the professional names “Shane Ryan” and “Shane Ryan-Reid” while reaching out to potential victims.
CA: Southern California man arrested for alleged sexual abuse, exploitation of 9 minor victims.
Shane Ryan Gledhill, 46.
Contacted many of his victims through online casting calls and filmmaking projects.https://t.co/r4dC7gDcT7
— Dalton (@DaltonReport) August 5, 2026
Sheriff’s Office Asks Public For More Information
The Sheriff’s Office is now asking anyone who had contact with Gledhill, or who has information about the case, to reach out to detectives. The agency’s public messaging specifically asks for help identifying “additional survivors,” signaling investigators think the case may not be fully closed.
An arrest is not the same as a conviction, and the charges remain allegations until tested in court. Still, the years-long timeline and the breadth of the charge list mark this as one of the more extensive child exploitation cases the county has pursued, with the next steps playing out through formal court filings still to come.
Sources:
nypost.com, law.justia.com, sbsheriff.org
