Heidi Chebahtah

Heidi brings with her an impressive 29 years of experience in law enforcement, dedicating the majority of her career to protecting society’s most vulnerable—children. Her lifelong passion has been rooted in combating Crimes Against Children, a cause she has fiercely championed throughout her career. Heidi played a pivotal role in founding the District Attorney’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a groundbreaking initiative that set a new standard for the pursuit of justice in these sensitive cases. For 12 years, Heidi worked tirelessly as a key member of the task force, dedicating countless hours to the identification, arrest, and successful prosecution of hundreds of sexual predators. Through her unwavering commitment, she helped rescue numerous child victims, many of whom were too afraid or too young to advocate for themselves.

Her work was far-reaching and covered a broad spectrum of crimes. Heidi was deeply involved in cases related to child sexual abuse, including Traveler Cases, where offenders would attempt to meet with minors for sexual purposes. She also tackled the Possession, Distribution, and Production of Child Sexual Assault Material, fighting to remove this content from the internet and hold offenders accountable. Additionally, Heidi handled cases involving hands-on sexual abuse of minors, working with children ranging in age from newborns to 18 years old. Her caseload often included crimes such as sextortion, where perpetrators would exploit and blackmail minors for explicit material, as well as other related offenses that often go unseen by the general public but have devastating impacts on the lives of young victims.

Heidi’s dedication to this work did not go unnoticed. In 2013, she was honored with the prestigious Investigator of the Year Award for her remarkable contributions to the ICAC Task Force. This award specifically recognized her success in rescuing victims, particularly those who were unable to speak up due to fear or their young age. Her efforts have left an indelible mark on both the community and the law enforcement world, making Heidi a revered figure in the fight against crimes targeting children.