FRESNO - Detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Sex Crimes Unit have arrested 40 year old Steven Matlak of Fresno. This marks the second time he has been arrested in the last two weeks. He is facing multiple felony charges, including lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and sexual penetration of a child 10 or younger.
On July 27th, the Sheriff’s Office received a report from a woman who said her five year old daughter had told her Steve Matlak photographed and touched the girl inappropriately while she was naked. Coincidentally, detectives developed information the next day that Matlak had done something similar with a nine year old girl. She is not related to, nor does she know, the five year old girl from the first report.
Detectives contacted Matlak and arrested him on July 28th. He then bailed out of jail on August 2nd.
Detectives have served search warrants at Matlak’s workplace and home, seizing his electronic devices. Detectives are currently analyzing those items for evidence. Following Matlak’s release from jail, detectives continued their investigation and learned of additional children he had victimized. Detectives interviewed them, then re-arrested Matlak August 10th on a new set of charges. He remains in the Fresno County Jail. His bail is set at $380,000.
Matlak knew all of his victims from prior interactions with them and their families.
It is important to point out that the mother of the five year old victim recently had a talk with her daughter about good touching and bad touching. Following that conversation, the little girl spoke up to her mom, telling her about the inappropriate encounter with Matlak earlier this year, which allowed our detectives to get involved.
Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office wants to encourage the public to take precautions against all types of potential child abuse crimes. Parents should monitor their children’s internet usage and be aware of the software apps they are using. Teach children to be wary of the person on the other end of the chat line; many times people are not who they say they are. Sex offenders often pretend to be someone else in order to lure children in and take advantage of them. Parents should keep an open dialogue with their children so they feel comfortable coming to talk to them about any inappropriate contact they may experience.
If anyone in the community has more information about Steven Matlak, please contact Detective Walden O’Neill at (559) 600-8203.
Matlak is an attorney with the law firm of Dowling Aaron Incorporated. The firm has removed Matlak's image from their website.