By admin 
Placer County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 41-year-old Sacramento man accused of attempting to meet who he believed was a 13-year-old girl in west Roseville, the agency announced Wednesday.
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The agency’s Crimes Against Persons Detectives Unit began investigating the case in mid-July. According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the man had communicated online with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. During those conversations, he allegedly said he wanted to engage in sexual acts with her and requested nude images, according to a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
The suspect arranged to meet the girl Monday and requested she turn off the location tracking on her phone. Investigators said he also brought alcohol and marijuana to the meeting, keeping both in his vehicle.
Instead of meeting the girl, the Sacramento man was met by deputies, who arrested him after detectives from the Special Operations Unit, Placer County Special Investigations Unit, Placer County Regional Auto Theft Task Force and the sheriff’s office UAS Team monitored his arrival.
Investigators said the man smashed his cellphone moments before his arrest in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.
The agency’s Cyber Crimes Unit will attempt to repair the device and recover its data. The Sheriff’s Office said it expects the effort to be successful.
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The man has an “extensive criminal history” including felony convictions for pimping and pandering, human trafficking of a minor, illegal firearm possession and narcotics offenses. He also previously was required to register as a sex offender. That registration is no longer active and likely expired in 2022, according to a sheriff’s office spokesperson.
Following Monday’s arrest, the man was booked on suspicion of attempted lewd and lascivious acts with a child, communicating with a minor for the purpose of committing an unlawful offense, meeting with a minor to engage in a lewd act and attempting to furnish marijuana to a minor. He was being held at the South Placer Jail in lieu of $460,000 bail.
Detectives said the investigation remains ongoing and believe there may be additional victims. They urged anyone who may have been victimized by the man to contact the agency’s tip line at [email protected] or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers.
Deputies also emphasized the importance of online safety, saying predators often use social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps and other online spaces to contact children.
“Know who your children are communicating with, talk openly about online safety, and monitor for sudden changes in behavior, secretive online activity, or other warning signs,” a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson wrote.
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