McClain, a married father of three who lives in Menifee, was named in a new affidavit filed in Riverside County, revealing disturbing details about the investigation that led to his arrest. The case, which involves graphic videos found on his home computer, has prompted swift action from the University Police Department (UPD), including termination proceedings, as the university grapples with the fallout of such serious allegations against one of its officers.
The arrest occurred off-campus on March 13, following an eight-month investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Investigators, with charges filed the next day, March 14. HSI first flagged McClain on July 27, 2024, after investigative software detected a file believed to be child pornography downloaded to an IP address traced to his home in Menifee, CA. Remote investigations confirmed the presence of multiple graphic videos on McClain’s computer, depicting girls as young as 6 and as old as 16 performing sex acts with adult men.
On March 11, a judge authorized search warrants, and two days later, HSI Riverside searched McClain’s home, uncovering additional child pornography, including videos of girls aged 8-10 engaged in sexual acts. Investigators also discovered a hidden camera recording from a bathroom in McClain’s home, showing a naked adult woman showering and a younger, clothed woman talking to her. McClain, whose children are ages 9, 13, and 16, is scheduled to be arraigned on April 1 in U.S. District Court in Riverside.
UPD Chief Gregory Murphy addressed the campus community via an email on March 18, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and emphasizing that such exploitation is unacceptable. Initially, McClain’s identity was withheld due to employee privacy laws, but the affidavit confirmed his name. The investigation, led by HSI, falls outside UPD’s jurisdiction, limiting the university’s ability to provide further details about the allegations or McClain’s background.
UPD Chief Gregory Murphy addressed the campus community via an email on March 18, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and emphasizing that such exploitation is unacceptable. Initially, McClain’s identity was withheld due to employee privacy laws, but the affidavit confirmed his name. The investigation, led by HSI, falls outside UPD’s jurisdiction, limiting the university’s ability to provide further details about the allegations or McClain’s background.
Public records identified McClain as a CSU Police Department employee, and he remains in custody as UPD moves forward with his termination. Murphy has encouraged those affected to utilize university support resources, including counseling, noting the particular difficulty such cases pose for survivors of abuse. The incident has raised serious questions about oversight within UPD, with the SDSU community awaiting further updates as HSI continues its investigation into McClain, whose actions have cast a dark shadow over the university’s commitment to safety and trust.
The email sent by SDSU UPD Chief Gregory Murphy is below:
Dear SDSU students, faculty and staff, I am writing to share deeply disturbing and concerning information that a police officer with the San Diego State University Police Department (UPD) has been arrested and charged on allegations of downloading child pornography to his personal computer. This is shocking, and I want to immediately acknowledge that no child – and no one – should ever experience exploitation, and to also recognize the pain and upset this has caused within our organization. This is painful, and these cases can be especially difficult for survivors of abuse. Let me be clear: UPD condemns any and all forms of exploitation and abuse. In the interest of keeping our university community informed, I am writing to proactively share the following information: What happened? On Thursday, March 13, Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crimes Investigators unit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), contacted UPD. The university learned on that day that the UPD police officer was arrested away from campus. The following day, on March 14, the police officer was charged with the possession of child pornography. As UPD is not the arresting or investigating agency for the criminal investigation, and because the arrest was made outside of UPD’s jurisdiction, information about the arrest, allegations and HSI’s investigation must come from HSI. I fully support HSI in conducting a thorough and comprehensive criminal investigation. What is UPD doing? The police officer, whose name and identity cannot be shared due to employee privacy laws, remains in custody. Upon learning of the allegations, UPD immediately initiated actions to terminate the officer. Where can I go for support? If you or someone you know needs support, I urge you to rely on university support resources, including counseling. I also know that trust is built through action. That is why we at UPD also commit to continuing to prioritize our charge to aid in the safety and well-being of all individuals. We will continue our many efforts aiding in the prevention of sexual violence through education and other efforts, supporting survivors through a trauma-informed practice and serving our full SDSU community while upholding the highest standards of integrity and respect. Gregory L. Murphy Chief of Police Originally published on March 18, 2025. Updated on March 19. |
