By F. Scott Faulkner
August 20, 2025-Santa Barbara, CA
A city employee with a prior stint at the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is
facing a long list of felony charges.
Dayton Robert Aldrich, 34, of Santa Barbara, was taken into custody August 18 by Santa
Barbara Police and booked into county jail.
On Wednesday, the District Attorney’s Office formally filed nine felony charges against him.
According to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Jarrod Foote,
Aldrich is accused of “using a minor for sex acts, illegally distributing sexually explicit material
involving a minor, and possessing child pornography.”
The alleged offenses took place over an eight-month span, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 18, 2025.
During his arrest, investigators reportedly discovered an arsenal of illegal firearms and drugs.
Aldrich now also faces charges for “possession of an assault rifle, two assault pistols, high-
capacity magazines, and cocaine while armed with a loaded, operable assault weapon.”
He remains in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail, with bail set at $1 million.
