During police interview in child porn bust, Berkeley man allegedly confessed having a ‘crush’ on ex’s prepubescent sisters

OAKLAND — A Berkeley man has been arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, but allegedly told police his sexual interest in children had spanned several years.

Izaiah Temple, 26, was charged Dec. 17 with possession/distribution of material depicting a minor engaging in sex, a felony. Temple was arrested one day before the charges were filed, and allegedly told police that when he was 18, he had a “crush” on his ex-girlfriend’s 10-and-11-year-old sisters, according to court records.

Temple denied ever sexually abusing the girls, according to police.

The investigation into Temple started with a tip from Facebook last November, involving someone uploading child sexual abuse material on the social media platform. Police say they located an image of a “prepubescent minor posing in a sexual manner” and drafted a warrant for Temple’s arrest.

Though living in Berkeley, Temple has no fixed address, police say. He was arrested on Dec. 16 and taken into custody on a $150,000 warrant. He refused to leave his jail cell for a Dec. 27 court appearance, yet was still released without bail and remains out of custody, according to court records.

Temple did not enter a plea at his most recent court appearance on Monday. The criminal complaint says he has one prior conviction, for robbery, in 2020.