The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announced today that defendant Nickolas Turpen-Arends was arraigned on October 6, 2026, in the San Joaquin County Superior Court.

Turpen-Arends faces the following charges: 

• One felony count of possession of matter depicting sexual conduct of person under 18 (Penal Code § 311.11(a)(1))
• One felony count of possession of over 600 obscene images of a minor in a sexual act (Penal Code § 311.11(c)(1))
• One felony count of distribution of matter depicting child in sexual conduct (Penal Code § 311.1(a))

"As a former Lodi School Board member, it is deeply infuriating whenever the safety and innocence of our children are threatened, and allegations of child sexual abuse material hit at the very core of what we must protect," said District Attorney Ron Freitas. "My office will always stand firm in our mission to protect kids and hold those who possess and or distribute this kind of material, accountable.”

The next court date is December 16, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. for further arraignment.