OAKLAND — A local chef is in federal custody and also faces state charges, but court records say he has been warned about his internet search history before.
Trevor Davidson, 47, confessed to federal agents in 2021 that he was guilt-stricken over his interest in child sexual abuse material, which he referred to as a form of “therapy,” according to a Homeland Security Investigations report. In 2023, he allegedly arranged to meet an undercover agent posing as a Fresno man, with plans to molest the agent’s prepubescent relative either in Fresno or at a family cabin in Lake Tahoe, court records show.
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In 2025, Oakland police launched their own investigation targeting Davidson, and once again reportedly found evidence he’d been downloading or viewing child sexual abuse material online.
These investigations have now resulted in criminal charges against Davidson, who was indicted in Fresno on federal charges of distributing child sexual abuse material and attempted coercion and enticement. In Alameda County, he faces charges of possessing child pornography and child exploitation, both felonies.
Davidson’s lawyers say he should be released from jail, due to “potentially life threatening” cardiac problems and having parents who are willing to take him in while the case is pending. U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto has opted to jail Davidson, finding he lacked a stable home, faces serious prison time and poses a risk to the public, court records show.
Davidson is an Oakland resident who attended a cooking college and has worked as a head chef during his culinary career. In 2021, he was the subject of a child pornography investigation and admitted to viewing it online. He called it a “f—d up therapy” to deal with past trauma and said he sought real life therapy to deal with his guilt and desire to stop viewing it, according to the HSI report.
He told agents he deliberately avoided material that reminded him of child family members, the report says. But two years later, he spoke with undercover agents on a chat application about wanting to molest kids, including the agents’ 8 and 9-year-old relatives, according to the criminal complaint against him.
During the chats, Davidson allegedly made arrangements to meet the agents, but later canceled the appointments each time. Prosecutors say he continued to express interest in the kids even after the cancellations. He also talked about getting one of the purported girls “Pikachu Stationary and some pencils,” as well as ordering a similarly themed sex toy, according to the complaint.
He also discussed growing up a “nudist home” and attending “nudist parties” to find “single moms,” according to the criminal complaint. He also allegedly discussed his fear of being “set up,” but had a solution in mind.
“It’s a lot easier to believe someone smokes weed if they share a joint with you,” he allegedly told an agent. “We gotta find some way of building that confidence. I have two suggestions. The first is I’m assuming you and the kids will be cruising together at least a couple hours before we meet at the bar. Get them naked and send me a pic.”
Davidson’s lawyers have filed a motion for release saying he dealt with thoughts of self-harm due to the “considerable stress, shame and shock” of being arrested.
“It is indisputable that Mr. Davidson has engaged in a pattern of conduct that has resulted in three law enforcement contacts in the last three years,” according to the motion. “At that time, Mr. Davidson had been in throws of chronic depression. He now has very serious, life threatening health issues.”