{"id":204601,"date":"2026-03-04T23:07:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T23:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/204601\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T23:07:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T23:07:31","slug":"fresno-school-files-police-report-against-city-council-candidate-rene-campos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/204601\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresno school files police report against City Council candidate Rene Campos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n

A California elementary school<\/a> filed a police report against a registered sex offender campaigning for a city council seat after he held a news conference near a school last week while children were on the property.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rene Campos, 41, who is running in the Fresno City Council\u2018s District 7 race, spoke Friday outside a church in the downtown area located mere feet away from Big Picture Elementary School, a public charter school.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a statement, Stephanie Hilton, the school\u2019s executive director, and Diana Gonzalez, its superintendent, criticized Campos over the news conference, calling it a “deeply troubling display of contempt of the law.”<\/p>\n

\"Rene <\/p>\n

Rene Campos, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor child sex abuse material possession charge in 2018 and is now a registered sex offender, is facing backlash for hosting a news conference last week near an elementary school.\u00a0 (James Ward, Visalia Times-Delta via Imagn Content Services, LLC\/State of California Department of Justice)<\/p>\n

“This was not only a potential violation of the legal restrictions placed upon him as a registered sex offender but a profound breach of the trust and safety our school community depends on every single day,” the statement said.<\/p>\n

The school was open, and students were actively present at the time of the event, it said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Campos’ candidacy has sparked backlash and renewed questions about whether someone with a criminal record like his should hold public office.<\/p>\n

In 2018, he was charged with possession of child sex abuse material,<\/a> according to court records. Campos has said he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge and is now a registered sex offender.<\/p>\n

In a previous statement to Fox News Digital, Campos, who is running to unseat incumbent Nelson Esparza, said he has met all legal requirements to run for city council.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CALIFORNIA MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL NABBED IN CHILD SEX STING<\/a><\/p>\n

“I satisfied every legal obligation imposed under the laws this state enacted for accountability and rehabilitation,” he said.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital has reached out to Campos’ campaign, the school and the Fresno Police Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Campos acknowledged his proximity to the school violated the law during the news conference when asked by reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Outside <\/p>\n

The entrance to Fresno City Hall in Fresno, California. The District 7 City Council seat is up for election amid controversy surrounding a registered sex offender candidate. (James Ward, Visalia Times-Delta via Imagn Content Services, LLC)<\/p>\n

“I would say, during operational hours, absolutely,” he said, The Fresno Bee reported. “I believe they are closed right now. I don’t see anyone.”<\/p>\n

The school<\/a> said it was open with children visibly entering and exiting the building.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The legal restrictions that may be placed on registered sex offenders \u2013 particularly those involving proximity to schools \u2013 exist for one reason: to protect children,” the school statement said. “They are not obstacles to be rationalized away with political messaging or reframed as symbols of forgiveness.”<\/p>\n

Campos reportedly asked the news media to meet him at the church at 3:30 p.m. The elementary school is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the school’s website.<\/p>\n

The Diocese of Fresno said Campos “independently and irresponsibly” chose the location of the press conference and used the Catholic church and school as “props in his theater of politics.”<\/p>\n

“The Diocese of Fresno has a long-standing history of civic engagement with elected officials and candidates across the political spectrum. Such engagement is rooted in communication, transparency and collegial community collaboration,” the diocese said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “This collaborative approach is clearly not of mind for Mr. Campos.<\/p>\n

\"Rene <\/p>\n

Rene Campos in a 2018 booking photo related to a child sex abuse material possession case. Campos, now a registered sex offender, has launched a campaign for Fresno City Council. (State of California Department of Justice)<\/p>\n

“The Diocese of Fresno wishes to make it abundantly clear that while the Catholic Church has a responsibility to engage with civic leaders, the Church does not endorse Mr. Campos or any other candidate,” it said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n

Under state law, a registered sex offender is allowed to serve on a city council. However, Esparza and fellow Fresno councilmembers<\/a> Annalisa Perea, Miguel Arias and Nick Richardson said they would pass legislation to limit a registered sex offender\u2019s ability to serve as a city councilmember, the newspaper reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Campos said Friday he chose the church as the location for the press conference because it has been around for hundreds of years and represents rehabilitation and forgiveness.<\/p>\n

Hinton said the school filed a police report, shared its concerns with local officials and directed its legal counsel to issue a cease and desist notice to Campos, according to the Bee.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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